Bharat Bandh On Feb 16, 2024: Full List Of What¡¯s Open, What¡¯s Closed
Gramin Bharat Bandh 2024 on February 16: Amid the ongoing "Dilli Chalo" March, groups of farmers, such as the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), have called for a nationwide strike known as Gramin Bharat Bandh on Friday, February 16, to push for their demands from the government. The Samyukta Kisan Morcha has requested all similar farmers' organizations to join forces and participate in the February 16 strike called by the central trade unions.
This call for a nationwide strike comes at a time when many farmers from Punjab, who have been marching, have faced barriers at the border between Punjab and Haryana near Ambala, around 200 kilometers away from Delhi. Security forces in Haryana have even resorted to using tear gas to disperse them.
The Samyukta Kisan Morcha, a non-political group, has urged all like-minded farmer organizations to come together and join in the Bharat Bandh.?
Why is Bharat Bandh happening on February 16?
On February 14th, the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (a group not tied to any political party) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha decided to march towards Delhi for the second day. They're asking the government to listen to their demands, and one of the main things they want is a law to guarantee Minimum Support Price (MSP) for crops.
The SKM talked about what they're asking for. They want MSP for all crops following the C2+50 percent formula, also known as the Swaminathan formula. This formula covers the cost of inputs like capital plus 50 percent. They also want a written assurance that their crops will be bought, forgiveness of debt, no rise in electricity rates, and no installation of smart meters.
Additionally, they're requesting 300 units of free electricity for farming, homes, and shops. They're asking for comprehensive crop insurance, an increase in monthly pensions to Rs 10,000, and some other things.
This action is part of ongoing farmer protests all over India. They are expressing their worries and demanding changes to help farmers. On February 16, during the nationwide strike and rural India shutdown, different groups like students, youth, women, and others including farmers, teachers, small business owners, drivers, experts, and journalists joined together to show their support and unity. They want their voices to be heard and their problems to be solved.?
Bharat Bandh on February 16: What are the timing of nationwide strike?
The Gramin Bharat Bandh organised by the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha is set to take place from 6 am to 4 pm. During the Bandh, farmers, along with support from central trade unions, intend to block roads at important spots across the country from 12 pm to 4 pm. In Punjab, numerous state and national highways will be closed for four hours on Friday, February 16th.
Gramin Bharat Bandh Today: What services will be impacted?
Transportation services, agricultural activities, rural job projects like MNREGA, and businesses in rural areas might face disruptions due to Gramind Bharat Bandh on Friday, February 16.
Garmin Bharat Bandh Today: Traffic advice for commuters in Delhi-NCR
Today during the Bharat Bandh, there will be significant traffic jams at the entry points to Delhi. Specifically, the Singhu Border (connecting Delhi to Haryana), the Ghazipur Border (linking Delhi to Ghaziabad), and the Tikri Border (also connecting Delhi to Haryana) are expected to be heavily congested due to ongoing protests. It is advisable to avoid these areas altogether. Additionally, the alternative routes suggested to manage the traffic diversion may also experience heavy congestion as all vehicles will be rerouted through them.
Garmin Bharat Bandh Today: Will banks, offices remain closed?
Many private and government offices might be closed this Friday because of a planned protest.
Garmin Bharat Bandh Today: Which services will not be affected?
During the Bharat Bandh on Friday, essential services like ambulance operations, marriage ceremonies, medical stores, schools, and others will continue as usual without any disruption.
What are farmers¡¯ demands?
The farmers' group called Samyukt Kisan Morcha has made some requests to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. These requests include setting a fair price for crops based on the Swaminathan formula, ensuring that farmers can sell their crops without any problems, getting relief from their debts, keeping electricity prices stable, and not forcing them to use smart meters. They also want free electricity for farming and home use up to a certain limit, a good insurance plan for their crops, and higher pensions of Rs 10,000 per month.
In the ongoing talks, a team of three government ministers will meet with the protesting farmers in Chandigarh on Thursday. These ministers are Arjun Munda, Piyush Goyal, and Nityanand Rai. This will be the third time they meet to discuss the issues, as the previous talks on February 8 and 12 didn't lead to any clear solutions.
Farmers from Punjab are still coming together at the Shambhu and Khanauri borders of Punjab and Haryana. Their plan is to move towards Delhi to highlight their requests to the central government.
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