Samyukta Kisan Morcha, a coalition of farmers’ unions, which called for Bharat Bandh or a nationwide strike on March 26, has called on the people to make it a success. The strike, in protest against the three controversial agrarian laws recently enacted, will be observed throughout the day tomorrow, from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Thousands of protesting farmers from Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and several other states have been organizing a sit-in along the borders of Delhi – Singhu, Tikri and Ghazipur – demanding the repeal of agricultural laws and a legal guarantee that the Minimum Support Price (MSP) will continue. Protesting farmers fear that the new laws will dismantle the MSP and corporatize agriculture.
Farmers unions have held more than 10 rounds of talks with the Center to resolve the deadlock, but to no avail.
This is the second national strike announced by the farmers. The first ‘bandh’ took place on December 8 and was witnessed in Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Assam. It received the support of several unions, several other organizations, as well as 24 opposition parties, including Congress and the PNC.
No movement of road or rail traffic
During the strike, from 6 am to 6 pm, all commercial establishments will be closed and traffic by road and rail will not be allowed, the farmers’ unions announced.
On March 28, during ‘Holika Dahan’, farmers will burn copies of farm laws, union leaders said.
Support pours
Congresswoman Digvijaya Singh tweeted in support of the protesting farmers. “We support the call to Bharat Bandh on March 26 against the three bills against farmers,” Singh said.
CPI (M) Andhra Pradesh also extended its support for the strike across the country.
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