Bharat Bandh: Punjab Imposes 4-Hour Highway Shutdown For Today

The demand by the SKM includes MSP for all crops based on the Swaminathan Commission recommendation, legal guarantee of procurement, debt waiver, no hike in electricity tariff, and no installation of smart meters.

The Bharat bandh on Friday has been called for by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella body of 37 farm unions, along with central trade unions, to press for their demands before the Union government amid the ongoing protest by the farmers on the Punjab-Haryana borders.

Punjab Imposes 4-Hour Highway Shutdown

The demand for MSP for all crops based on the Swaminathan Commission recommendation, legal guarantee of procurement, debt waiver, no hike in electricity tariff, and no installation of smart meters has been made by the SKM. Additionally, they have demanded free 300 units of power for farming, domestic use, and shops, as well as comprehensive crop insurance.

The bandh was called after the "Delhi Chalo" march, spearheaded by splinter group SKM (Non-Political), encountered tear gas shells at Shambhu and Khanauri near Ambala and Jind on the Punjab-Haryana border after protesters attempted to break police barricades set up by the Haryana Police to prevent them from heading to the national capital.

It has been urged by the SKM for all like-minded farmer organizations to unite and participate in the bandh. The protest will commence at 6 am and conclude at 4 pm. Additionally, farmers will partake in a chakka jam on major roads across the country from noon till 4 pm.

Key farm bodies, including BKU (Rajewal), BKU Dakaunda, BKU (Lakhowal), BKU (Qadian), Kirti Kisan Union, and Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee, which are part of the SKM, are participating in the bandh. The BKU Dakaunda general secretary Jagmohan Singh Dakaunda has stated that the bandh call will have a countrywide impact.

Various employees' unions, government and private transport bodies, arhtiya associations, and other organizations have pledged support to the bandh. Emergency services, such as ambulance operations, medical shops, and students going for board exams, are unlikely to be affected during the bandh.

The Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU), led by Rakesh Tikait, has also expressed support for the Bharat bandh. The Punjab Congress will hold statewide demonstrations on Friday in support of the Bharat bandh call. A delegation led by Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring will submit a memorandum to the governor demanding justice for the farmers, according to a spokesperson. Criticizing the BJP-led central government's handling of the farmers' protest, the People's Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) has extended support to the Bharat bandh.

The PAGD, an amalgam of five political parties -- National Conference, People's Democratic Party, CPI(M), CPM, and Awami National Conference (ANC) -- was formed in 2019 for the restoration of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir. Lashing out at the government for using force against the protesting farmers to stop them from moving to Delhi, the PAGD has extended support to the nationwide strike called by the SKM along with central trade unions.

Renowned scientist MS Swaminathan, who was recently bestowed with the country's highest civilian honor -- the Bharat Ratna -- had recommended an MSP, but the government is hesitant to implement his recommendations, as stated by the PAGD. Additionally, farmers were assured of the withdrawal of all cases registered against them during their prolonged protest last year, but more cases were filed against them.