Rakesh Tikait Says Farmer Groups Would Observe ‘Bharat Bandh’ On February 16

Rakesh Tikait, a farmer leader, announced on Wednesday that farmers would observe a “Bharat Bandh” on February 16 in protest of a number of national issues, including the failure to enact a law that ensures maximum support price (MSP) for crops. According to Tikait, the national spokesperson of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU), in addition to farmers’ groups, traders and transporters have also been asked to support the cause and observe a work strike on that particular day.

Agriculture strike on Feb 16

“We have called for a ‘Bharat bandh’ on February 16. Several farmers’ groups are part of it, including the Sanyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM). Farmers should also not go to their farms on that day and strike work. Earlier also farmers skipped the day of ‘Amavasya’ from working on the fields. Likewise, February 16 is ‘Amavasya’ only for farmers. They should not work that day and resort to ‘agriculture strike’. This will send a big message in the country,” he told reporters in Muzaffarnagar.

“We are also appealing to traders (for support) and people should also not make any purchase that day.  We appeal to shopkeepers to keep their shops closed in support of the farmers and labourers,” he said.

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Reason for ‘Bharat Bandh’

On the objective for the strike call, Tikait said there are several reasons for it. “The chief among reasons is the law on MSP Guarantee, unemployment, the Agniveer scheme, pension scheme is also a big issue in the country for the people retiring from service,” Tikait said.

He clarified that other organizations would also be taking part in this strike, so it wouldn’t just be a farmers’ strike. He said that on February 16, the transporters’ community, which had just demonstrated against the new, strict law against drivers of cars involved in collisions, has also been asked to go on strike.