A call to hold a sectoral industrial strike and a ‘Grameen Bharat Bandh’ on February 16 had been given by several farmer organisations and unions, including the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) with the aim of pressing the Modi-led union government to deliver on their promise to bring in a law guaranteeing minimum support price (MSP) and to support the protesting farmers being prevented by the Haryana government from reaching Delhi. The SKM (non-political) had urged all like-minded farmers’ organisations to unite and take part in the said Bharat Bandh.
In addition to supporting the demands being raised by the farmers participating in the ‘Chalo Delhi’ protest, which include a law on MSP, justice for the victims for Lakhimpur Kheri violence, implementation of the Swaminathan Commission’s recommendations, pensions for farmers and farm labourers, the farmers participating in the nation-wide Bandh are also raising their demands. As per Kirti Kisan Union leader Karmjeet Singh, the demands being raised through this strike includes “the repeal of four labour codes, to double the days under MNREGA to 200, and to cancel the hit-and-run law. The whole country and Punjab is one and it’s supporting the ‘Bharat Bandh.”
VIDEO | Farmers’ ‘Gramin Bharat Bandh’: Here’s what Kirti Kisan Union leader Karmjeet Singh said on farmers’ protest.
“Our demands include the repeal of four labour codes, to double the days under MNREGA to 200, and to cancel the hit-and-run law. The whole country and Punjab is… pic.twitter.com/YOyu8fCBdE
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) February 16, 2024
Farmer leader Rakesh Tikait also participated in the nationwide strike to show his support and stated “The road has not been blocked in Muzzafarnagar, the route has been diverted. This (Grameen Bharat Bandh call) will continue till 2-3 pm. Tomorrow, a monthly panchayat is in Sisoli (village in UP’s Meerut) where the future course of action will be decided.”
VIDEO | “The road has not been blocked, the route has been diverted. This (Grameen Bharat Bandh call) will continue till 2-3 pm. Tomorrow, monthly panchayat is in Sisoli (village in UP’s Meerut) where the future course of action will be decided,” says farmer leader Rakesh Tikait… pic.twitter.com/5FdjchS9W8
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) February 16, 2024
Visuals from February 16 shows farmers and trade union from many parts of the country successfully holding this day long protest, which began at 6 am continued till 4 pm. According to a report by The Indian Express, farmers planned join massive chakka jams on main roads nationwide, closing most of the state and national highways. Notably, essential services such as the purchase and supply of vegetables and grains also remained suspended, along with village shops, agricultural activities, rural works, and MNREGA works are urged to be closed. Grain markets, rural industrial and private sector entities, and vegetable markets were not opened today at many places during the bandh.
In Jind, Haryana farmers and labourers gathered and demonstrated in the market
Rajasthan also saw tractors in thousands being lined up in support of the strike.
These scenes are not from Punjab or Haryana, farmers are now protesting against BJP in Rajasthan
5000+ tractors have been lined up by farmers to fulfill their demands of electricity.#FarmerProtest2024 #BharatBandh pic.twitter.com/BHcDslsfHc
— Tuchelsea (@Chelsea_Amrit) February 16, 2024
#BharatBandh demonstration at Jaipur, Rajasthan today! #GrameenBharatBandh pic.twitter.com/yi0Ue1Qhrs
— AIKS (@KisanSabha) February 16, 2024
With the farmers taking over the Saini Majra Toll on Ambala-Kaithal Highway and being freed for three hours, traffic was allowed to be passed without toll.
VIDEO | Saini Majra Toll on Ambala-Kaithal Highway freed by farmers for three hours as part of their protest against the central government. pic.twitter.com/Y1kPKCiCds
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) February 16, 2024
A similar visual also emerged from Kurukshetra Highway, with the toll being freed for three hours to show support to the ongoing ‘Delhi Chalo’ protest.
VIDEO | Farmers stage protest at Kurukshetra highway in Haryana.
Protesting farmers kept a toll plaza free for three hours today to show support for the ongoing protest by several farmers’ organisations. pic.twitter.com/pUm3yrK5YV
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) February 16, 2024
Trade Unions in Odisha’s Rourkela also joined in on the ‘Bharat Bandh’ protest.
Trade Unions in Odisha’s Rourkela join ‘Bharat Bandh’ protest
Edited video is available on PTI Videos (https://t.co/L2D7HH309u) #PTINewsAlerts #PTIVideos @PTI_News pic.twitter.com/H3rvwVo5o0
— PTI News Alerts (@PTI_NewsAlerts) February 16, 2024
Zirakpur-Banur highway was also blocked by the farmers
Farmers block Zirakpur-Banur highway to make Bharat Bandh successful. SKM had given a call for Bharat Bandh. pic.twitter.com/NZRWycXK3r
— Praveen (@praveenpscs) February 16, 2024
Buses remaining parked at the bus stand in Amritsar could be seen in view of the protesting farmers calling Bharat Bandh.
#BharatBandh | Buses parked at bus stand in #Amritsar as protesting farmers called Bharat Bandh today
📸Sameer Sehgal/ HT
Track updates on #FarmersProtest https://t.co/zqHpb2gqAY pic.twitter.com/aoISGJ9OEG— Hindustan Times (@htTweets) February 16, 2024
A video of a bake rally being taken out in Karnal by All India Kisan Sabha in support of the protesting farmers also went viral on social media.
Shutdown in Karnal Haryana in support of #BharatBandh #GrameenBharatBandh pic.twitter.com/th89ikTeCB
— AIKS (@KisanSabha) February 16, 2024
Protest was also held in a market in Shimla
#BharatBandh in #Shimla and #Mandi! pic.twitter.com/F56OyoOBsw
— AIKS (@KisanSabha) February 16, 2024
A rally named ‘Rasta Roko’ was also taken out in Greater Noida
Rasta Roko at Pari Chowk, Greater Noida #BharatBandh #GrameenBharatBandh pic.twitter.com/4fdPDaVMLl
— AIKS (@KisanSabha) February 16, 2024
#BharatBandh rally at Noida Industrial Area! pic.twitter.com/1tIIhEPSrj
— AIKS (@KisanSabha) February 16, 2024
Tamil Nadu saw a massive protest in support of the protest
#BharatBandh in full force in Tamil Nadu! Red Red Red Salute! #GrameenBharatBandh pic.twitter.com/HrjKuZR2KP
— AIKS (@KisanSabha) February 16, 2024
A rally of majority of women could be seen being taken out at Vasai, Palghar district of Maharashtra
#GrameenBharatBandh at Vasai, Palghar district, Maharashtra. #BharatBandh pic.twitter.com/MyplYdJuPf
— AIKS (@KisanSabha) February 16, 2024
This call for the nationwide strike by SKM was also supported by public intellectuals and artists, who had issued a joint statement condoning the said call.
Meanwhile, one day after the three union ministers had assured the farmer leaders of a ceasefire from the government side while the talks between the two parties were taking place, more visuals of tear gas and rubber pellets being fired at the protests farmers surfaced. Today itself, a death was reported from the protest site allegedly due to inhaling of the tear gas.
VIDEO | Security forces fire tear gas shells to disperse protesting farmers at Punjab-Haryana Shambhu Border. pic.twitter.com/jB9yZCAeaR
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) February 16, 2024
Related:
Farmers’ Protest: Physical repression, prohibitory orders, Delhi entry blocked – Déjà Vu?