Farmers to end 10-day agitation with nationwide strike today

A nation-wide bandh has been called by agitating farmers on June 10 to mark the end of their 10-day agitation that started on June 1.

Farmers have been protesting in parts of Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Rajasthan. Their demands include farm loan waiver, free power, and implementation of the Swaminathan committee that recommended 50 per cent profit to farmers for their produce.

Shiv Kumar Sharma of Rashtriya Kisan Mazdoor Sangh also said they will work to make the June 10 strike a success.

"We have given a call for a Bharat Bandh and asked all those living in 6 lakh villages of the country not to supply anything in the towns. We have also requested traders to keep their shops closed till 2 pm in our support," Sharma told a newspaper.

Farmers' protest lost steam after their bid to block the supply of milk, vegetables and other essential items to cities was thwarted by police.

However, Bharatiya Kisan Union Madhya Pradesh general secretary Anil Yadav admitted the impact of the protest was not as expected in Madhya Pradesh. He said it was the fear of the police which led to the failure of the agitation.

"The farmers do not want to get into the wrong books of police. Thousands have been forced to sign bonds of Rs 25,000 and BJP workers among the farmers and members of the RSS-backed Bharatiya Kisan Sangh were active in sabotaging the strike," Yadav was quoted as saying.

Punjab, Odisha farmers not to join bandh

Punjab farmer unions have decided not to take part in the June 10 Bharat Bandh call given by the Rashtriya Kisan Mazdoor Mahasangh and Kisan Ekta Manch.

Already, Punjab farmer unions have ended their struggle on June 6 after paying homage to farmers of Mandsaur in MP, who were killed last year in police firing. This after dairy farmers and vegetable growers stated that they were against the Gaon Bandh protest, scheduled on June 10.

Navnirman Krushak Sangathan Odisha State coordinator Seshadeba Nanda told Indian Express that though they are supporting the farmers' protest they will not participate in Bharat Bandh on Sunday. Similarly, Paschim Odisha Krushak Samanwayan Samiti convenor Lingaraj said they are not supporting the Bharat Bandh in a full fledged manner.