Farmer groups to observe 'Bharat Bandh' today against Modi govt's policies

Besides farmers' groups, traders and transporters have also been asked to support the cause and observe a work strike that day, said Tikait, the national spokesperson of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU).

New Delhi: The Samyuktha Kisan Morcha (SKM) and central trade unions barring the BMS on Wednesday announced a 'Bharat Bandh' on February 16 to protest against Narendra Modi government's "growing corporate, communal and authoritarian attack" on people.

Traders and transporters have also appealed for support for the strike, which will also act as a mobilisation ahead of Lok Sabha elections.

"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," Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU)'s Narendra Tikait told reporters in Uttar Pradesh's Noida.

"The chief among reasons is the law on MSP Guarantee, unemployment, the Agniveer scheme ... [the] pension scheme is also a big issue in the country for the people retiring from service," he said.

In a joint statement, the SKM and Joint Platform of Central Trade Unions appealed to students, youth, women, pensioners, small traders, truck operators, professionals, journalists and cultural activists among others to bring the real livelihood issues back to the national agenda.

It said they were organising "industrial/sectoral strike and Grameen Bandh" on February 16 against the "anti-worker, anti-farmer and anti-national policies" of the Union government. The trade unions have also extended support to a call given by the SKM for a tractor/vehicle parade at the district headquarters on January 26.