1. SKM and central trade unions call for a nationwide strike on Feb 16.
2. Farmers are urged to participate to address key demands.
3. Strike aimed at pressing Centre to address farmers’ concerns.
New Delhi, Feb 15: The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) and central trade unions have jointly called for a Gramin Bharat Bandh nationwide strike on February 16, urging farmer organizations across the country to participate.
The strike aims to address key demands presented to the Centre by the farming community.
However, as farmers from Punjab attempted to march towards Delhi, they were halted at the state’s border with Haryana near Ambala, with security forces employing tear gas to deter their advance.
Impact on Daily Life: What to Expect
Transportation, agricultural activities, MNREGA rural works, private offices, village shops, and rural industrial and service sector institutions are anticipated to remain closed during the protest from 6 am to 4 pm.
Also Read: SRK Recreates Iconic James Bond Dialogue, Humorously Addresses Height Concerns | Watch Video
While essential services like ambulance operations, newspaper distribution, medical shops, and board exams are expected to continue unaffected, the strike is poised to significantly impact various sectors.
Key Demands of the Farmers
The protesting farmers are demanding a law guaranteeing a Minimum Support Price (MSP) for their produce, along with strengthening the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) and reinstating the old pension scheme.
Additionally, they seek pension and social security for workers in both formal and informal sectors. Specific demands include MSP based on the Swaminathan formula, legal procurement guarantees, debt waivers, and no electricity tariff hikes.
Support from Public Intellectuals
A group of public intellectuals and artists have expressed solidarity with the farmers’ cause, endorsing the joint call for a sectoral industrial strike and Grameen Bharat Bandh on February 16.
Notable signatories include economists, historians, cultural activists, and journalists, who emphasize the importance of unity in challenging government policies perceived as detrimental to the working class.
Preparations and Ongoing Protests
Farmers from Punjab continue their protest at the Shambhu and Khanauri borders, aiming to march towards Delhi under the ‘Dilli Chalo’ movement. In anticipation of potential unrest, the Delhi Police has procured over 30,000 tear gas shells to prevent protesters from entering the national capital.
This demonstration echoes the 2020 farmers’ protest, where farmers from various states, primarily Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh, staged a prolonged sit-in at border points, enduring until December 2021.
The Bharat Bandh serves as a formidable display of farmers’ unity and resolve, demanding substantive action from the government to address their grievances and safeguard their livelihoods.
