CHANDIGARH: The two neighbouring countries India and Pakistan are facing similar political scenerio and ruling parties in both the countries are facing wrath of opposition parties.
It is perhaps first time that opposition parites in India and Paksitan are on same page and posed a serious threat to ruling outfits.It is testing time for BJP in India and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf in Paksitan. While nationwide agitation in India has flared into a major offensive against Prime Minister Narender Modi, the opposition parties in Palsitan have formed Paksitan Democratic Morcha to unseat Prime Minsiter Imran Khan.
The farmers agitation in India has becoem a rallying point for opposition parties to attack Narender Modi government which has enacted three agriculture bills, known as 'Black Laws' to help big corporate houses. This action of Modi is being described an attempt to hand over agriculture sector to private players. The farmer community in India feared that corporate hosues would snatch their land holdings and they will be deprived of Minimum Sup[port Price on their crops.
The farmer organisations in India have given call for 'Bharat and' on December 8 after holding five rounds of talks with the center government. Another round of talks with the center government would be held on December 9 but it seems center would not exceed the demands of farmers who are demanding to scrap the three farm laws, Electiricity bill 2020 and another ordinance of heavy fine and jail on burning of straw.
Prime Minister Narender Modi and Agriculture minister Narender Tomar have defended the new acts and claimed these are in favour of farmers. The farmers however rejected the agri acts and stated that these are anti-farmer and aimed to help corporate friends of Narender Modi. The deadlock on the issue may further complicate the things for Modi government. All opposition parties have supported the call for Bharat Bandh, putting ruling party on the defensive.
Atempts were made by BJP leaders to defame the farmer agitation by calling them Khalistanis and anti-national but strong opposition by farmers and their sympathisers have silenced the BJP leaders. Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar was first to attack the farmers. He tried his best to stop farmers moving from Punjab to Delhi by digging roads, blocking highways and using tear gas shells and water canons against farmers. His utterances of calling farmers Khalistani were also dismissed by Agriculture minister Narender Tomar. Prime Minister Narender Modi however remained silent on such derogratory comments.
In Pakistan Imran Khan is facing similar situation and trying to prevent opposition rallies by issuing prohibitory orders and making excuse of corona virus. The opposition parties however are determined to fight out Imran Khan who is being projected as puppet of army. The opposition has also alleged that elections were rigged by army to elect Imran Khan. Incidently similar allegations of EVM rigging were also made by Indian political parties against BJP and Election Commission of India. The allegations were denied by BJP.
The opposition parties, including the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan People's Party (PPP), have thrown their weight behind the massive anti-government protests by right-wing Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl.
In India about 20 opposition parites including Congress, RJD, TMC, SAD, Shiv Sena have backed the Bharat Band by farmer organisations.