‘Bharat Bandh impact in Mumbai to depend on MVA support’

Ashok Dhawale. File pic

Whether or not Mumbai will shut down completely as part of the September 27 Bharat Bandh will depend on the stand of the Maha Vikas Aghadi, farmer union leaders have said.

The Samyukt Kisan Morcha has called the nationwide bandh to intensify the farmers' agitation against the Centre's three agricultural laws.

Ashok Dhawale, president of the All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS), told mid-day, "The bandh will take place everywhere else in the state, but in Mumbai, it will depend on the stand of the MVA. However, there will still be roadblocks and appeals to close shops in the city to some extent."

He added, "We are currently in discussion with the MVA partners. So, if they put their muscle into it, then the Mumbai city will be closed as well."

A state-level meeting of the leaders of various political parties, farmers' organisations, agricultural labourers as well as women, youth, students and teachers has been planned on September 20 at Bhupesh Gupta Bhawan in Prabhadevi.

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"The aim of the meeting is to prepare for the Bharat Bandh. We couldn't meet earlier because of the Ganpati festival," Dhawale said. Speaking about the plans for September 27, he said, "We will go down to the grassroots level everywhere and hold thousands of meetings in villages, towns, and cities. Lakhs of leaflets will be distributed in the seven days leading up to the bandh."

"This bandh will also coincide with the completion of 10 months of the farmers' struggle, which is on September 26," Dhawale added.