Sanyukt Kisan Morcha announces Bharat Bhand on 16 February

Amid the ongoing “Dilli Chalo” March, the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) announced a Bharat bandh also called Gramin Bharat Bandh on February 16.

The announcement was made today amidst the ongoing ‘Delhi Chalo’ protest. The protest is led by an SKM, along with Kisan Mazdoor Morcha. Near Ambala and Jind, tear gas was fired at protesters who were attempting to push through police barricades set up by the Haryana Police to prevent them from reaching Delhi.

The Gramin Bharat Bandh organised by the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha is scheduled from 6 am to 4 pm. During the Bandh, which will also receive support from central trade unions, farmers plan to chakka jam (Block Roads) in major places across the country from 12 pm to 4 pm, reported. In Punjab, many state and national highways will be shut down for four hours on Friday, February 16.

The demands for which Bharat Bandh has been called are similar to those of the farmer unions behind the ‘Dilli Chalo’ call. The unions behind Gramin Bharat Bandh have demanded pensions for farmers, MSP for crops, implementation of the old pension scheme, and the withdrawal of the amendment of labour laws, according to sources.

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