Farmers Protest: On Friday, February 16, workers and farmers have called for a sectoral industrial strike and a Grameen Bharat Bandh. To join forces and participate in the Bharat Bandh on February 16, the farmers’ association Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) has called on all like-minded farmer organisations. The protest will start at 6 AM and run till 4 PM.
Chakka Jams Across the Nation
Farmers will reportedly join large chakka jams on major roads across the country on Friday from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m., according to a report by The Indian Express. On Friday, the majority of Punjab‘s state and federal highways would be closed for four hours.
The workers and farmers have called for a sectoral industrial strike and Grameen Bharat Bandh on February 16. A number of public intellectuals and artists have endorsed this appeal in a joint statement released on Wednesday. The joint declaration, which calls on people from all walks of life “to extend all support to this momentous action” of the farmers and the workers, was signed by 34 individuals in all.
Bharat Bandh Impact
India.com reports that on Friday, a number of governmental and business agencies, as well as small-town stores, would stay closed. In addition, it’s possible that institutions in the rural industrial and service sectors, transportation, agriculture, and rural works under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA) will stay closed.
Emergency services like ambulance rides, marriages, hospitals, schools, and so forth won’t be impacted on Friday during the Bharat Bandh.
SKM Appeals to PM Modi
The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi requesting the following: a legal procurement guarantee, debt forgiveness, no increase in power tariffs, and no smart metres.
The minimum support price for crops will be determined by applying the Swaminathan formula, which is C2 50 (input cost of capital 50%). Among other things, they wanted a rise in pensions to 10,000 a month, comprehensive crop insurance, and 300 free units of power for farming for both domestic use and shops.
Crucial Talks in Chandigarh
Three Union ministers will meet on Thursday in Chandigarh with the leaders of the protesting farmers. The farmer leaders will meet at 5 p.m. today with Minister of Agriculture and Farmer Welfare Arjun Munda, Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal, and Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai.
The two parties will be having their third round of discussions; the first two, held on February 8 and 12, ended in a deadlock. Punjabi farmers are setting up camp at the borders of Haryana and Punjab in Shambhu and Khanauri in an attempt to march towards Delhi in order to put pressure on the Centre to grant their requests.
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