Bharat Bandh Today: Farmers' unions have called for a Gramin Bharat Bandh or nationwide strike on Friday, February 16, to put their demands on the Centre. The Samyukta Kisan Morcha asked all the other farmers' unions to unitedly be a part of the Gramin Bharat Bandh called by the central trade unions. The bandh is to impact transportation and agricultural activities too. Let's take a look at what will remain open and what will remain closed.
What Will Remain Closed?
- Transportation activities
- Agricultural activities
- Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA) rural works
- Private Offices
- Village shops
- Rural industrial and service sector institutions
What Will Not Be Affected?
- Ambulance operations
- Newspaper distribution
- Marriage ceremony
- Students giving their board exams
- Marriage ceremony
Meanwhile, the 'Delhi Chalo' march of the farmers from Punjab against the central government entered its third day on Thursday. A meeting of the farmer unions and the central government is scheduled for Thursday at 5 pm to discuss the issues.
The farmers have put forth 12 demands before the central government for which they're marching to Delhi. The protest this time has been called by Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (non-political) and the Punjab Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee, led by farmer union leaders Jagjeet Singh Dallewal and Sarwan Singh Pandher.
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According to the protesting farmers, the Center promised them better crop prices, after which they ended the 2021 protest. They are demanding to enact a law guaranteeing a minimum support price (MSP) for all crops, in line with the Swaminathan Commission report.
They are also demanding a complete debt waiver and a scheme to provide pensions to farmers and farm labourers.