A nationwide strike has been called by the Farmers’ unions on March 26 when their ongoing protest at Delhi borders will complete four months. This is being planned to carry ahead the farmers’ protests against the contentious farm-laws. Announcing their future programmes protesting against the three farm-laws enacted by Parliament in 2020, the farmers’ unions said that some trade unions will also join them in their protest against fuel price hike on March 15.
Also See: Overview of the Farmers’ unions in the protests
The doubt over the involvement of fringe elements during the Red Fort violence, intending to malign the farmers’-movement has gained weight after the arrest of Deep Sidhu. It had sullied the image of the so-far peaceful protest by the farmers. Consequently, farmers’ unions are focussing more on spreading their message to other states through visits, mahapanchayats among others, instead of staying put only at Delhi borders.
On March 19, the farmers will observe “Mandi Bachao-Kheti Bachao” day, Buta Singh Burjgill, a prominent farmer-leader said.
The farmer-unions have also decided to celebrate ‘Shaheedi divas’ of Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev, the farmer leader said.
Youths from all parts of the country will join the farmers’ protests at Delhi borders on that day, Burjgill added.
Farmers from Punjab, Uttar Pradesh are coming to Singhu, Tikri, Ghazipur protest sites to continue the protests. Meanwhile, farmer-union leaders are touring other states and some of the protesting farmers who have been at the protest-sites since November-December are going back to take care of crops.
Also See: An overview of farmers’ protests- role of Charan Singh
On February 26, the Confederation of All India Traders had called for a nationwide strike demanding a review of the provisions of the goods and services tax (GST) regime. Recently, the farmers observed the 100th day of their ongoing protest and said that the protests will go on unless the laws are repealed.
Farmer leader Buta Singh Burjgill said that farmers along with trade unions will protest the hike in fuel prices and privatisation of railways on March 15.
Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait said in Madhya Pradesh, “If needed, we, on lakhs of tractors, will reach Parliament to press for the repeal of the three black laws. 3,500 tractors entered Delhi on Republic Day. These were not hired tractors.”
Farmer-leaders have also said that copies of the new farm-laws will be burnt during ‘Holika Dahan’ on March 28.
