Bharat Bandh Today: Farmers And Workers Announce Nationwide Protests; What Will Be Impacted?

Workers and farmers across the nation have called for a sectoral industrial strike and Grameen Bharat Bandh on Friday, February 16. The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political), representing farmers, has spearheaded this call to action, urging like-minded farmer organizations to unite and participate in the day-long protest, which is scheduled to run from 6 am to 4 pm.

According to reports from The Indian Express, farmers are planning massive chakka jams on main roads across the country from 12 pm to 4 pm on Friday. In Punjab, most state and national highways will be closed for four hours, causing disruptions in transportation and daily activities.

Public intellectuals and artists have rallied behind the cause, with 34 prominent figures signing a joint statement in support of the joint call for the industrial strike and Bharat Bandh. The statement encourages people from all walks of life to extend their support to this significant action taken by the farmers and workers.

India.com suggests that the impact of the Bharat Bandh could lead to the closure of various private and government offices, and village shops, and disruptions in transportation, agricultural activities, and rural employment schemes. However, emergency services, including ambulance operations, medical shops, schools, and marriage functions, will not be affected during the protest.

The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) has written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, outlining key demands, including a Minimum Support Price for crops based on the Swaminathan formula, a legal guarantee of procurement, debt waivers, and no increase in electricity tariffs or the installation of smart meters.

Furthermore, the farmers are seeking free 300 units of power for farming, comprehensive crop insurance, and a pension hike to Rs 10,000 per month, among other requests. In response to the ongoing protests, a panel of three Union ministers, including Agriculture and Farmer Welfare Minister Arjun Munda, Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal, and Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai, is scheduled to hold a meeting with protesting farmer leaders in Chandigarh. This meeting marks the third round of dialogue, following inconclusive discussions on February 8 and 12.

Farmers from Punjab have been camping at the Shambhu and Khanauri borders of Punjab and Haryana, to march towards Delhi to press the Centre to address their demands. The situation has been tense, with reports of police using pellet guns and tear gas, further escalating the already heightened tensions between the farmers and the government.