Bharat Bandh February 16: Farmers and Unions Unite for Nationwide Strike Tomorrow
Feb 16: Dual strike by farmers' unions for MSPs and agricultural reforms nationwide.
Tomorrow, February 16, is set to witness a dual strike across India. Farmers’ unions, including the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), have called for a nationwide protest to press their demands before the Centre. This coincides with another Bharat Bandh call by the SKM and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, intensifying the nationwide agitation over minimum support prices (MSPs) and agricultural reforms.
The call for Bharat Bandh arises amidst tense scenes at Haryana’s border near Ambala, where protesting farmers from Punjab were met with tear gas from state security forces. The farmers, barred from advancing towards Delhi, face strong opposition from Delhi Police determined to prevent their entry into the capital.
Anticipating the strike’s impact, transportation, agricultural activities, Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA) rural works, private offices, village shops, and rural industrial and service sector institutions are expected to shut down. However, essential services like ambulance operations, newspaper distribution, pharmacies, and schools are likely to operate as usual.
The farmers’ demands echo loudly through their protests. They call for a law guaranteeing Minimum Support Price (MSP) for their produce, alongside strengthening the MGNREGS, reinstating the old pension scheme, and ensuring pension and social security for all workers. The SKM’s letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi outlines a range of demands, including a MSP based on the Swaminathan formula, debt waivers, no electricity tariff hikes, and increased pensions.
Despite the shutdown, banks will remain open and operate as usual, as confirmed by the Reserve Bank of India’s holiday matrix. With both farmers and unions standing firm in their demands, the nation braces for a day of significant protest and solidarity.
