Bharat Bandh 2024 Highlights: A sectoral industrial strike and Grameen Bharat Bandh have been called by the workers and farmers on 16 February, Friday.
The farmers’ body Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) has urged all like-minded farmer organisations to unite and take part in the February 16 Bharat Bandh. The day-long protest will begin from 6 AM to 4 PM. Farmers reportedly will join massive chakka jams on main roads nationwide from 12 pm to 4 pm on Friday. Most of the state and national highways will be closed for four hours in Punjab on Friday.
As per media report, various private and government offices, and village shops may remain shut today. Besides, transportation, agricultural activities, Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA) rural works, and rural industrial and service sector institutions are also likely to remain closed.
The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi demanding a Minimum Support Price for crops based on the Swaminathan formula of C2 50 (input cost of capital 50%), legal guarantee of procurement, debt waiver, no hike in electricity tariff and no smart metres.
They have also demanded free 300 units of power for farming for domestic use and shops, comprehensive crop insurance, and a hike in pensions to ₹10,000 per month among others.
In view of the Bharat Bandh called by farmers’ unions on Friday, the Gautam Buddh Nagar Police on Thursday said restrictions under CrPC Section 144, including a ban on unauthorized public assemblies, would be enforced across the district, reported news agency PTI.
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Bharat Bandh 2024 LIVE:MSP to get legal guarantee if INDIA bloc comes to power: Rahul Gandhi
Bharat Bandh 2024 LIVE:Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday said his party will accept long-pending demands of farmers in the country and ensure a legal guarantee to minimum support price (MSP) of crops if the INDIA bloc comes to power after the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
Addressing the ‘Kisan Nyay Panchayat’, a gathering of farmers, in Bihar’s Rohtas, as part of his ‘Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra’, Gandhi claimed that “cultivators are not getting the remunerative prices for their crops”.
“If the INDIA bloc comes to power after the general elections, we will give a legal guarantee to MSP. Whenever farmers have asked for something from the Congress, it has been given to them. Be it loan waiver or MSP, we have always protected the interests of cultivators and will do so in future,” Gandhi said.
Bharat Bandh 2024 LIVE: Trade union workers stage protest in support of farmers at Bhubaneswar
Bharat Bandh 2024 LIVE: In a photo shared by news agency PTI, Trade union workers staged protest in support of Bharat (Gramin) bandh call by farmers at Bhubaneswar railway station on 16 February.
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Bharat Bandh 2024 LIVE: Farmers to stay put at Punjab-Haryana borders as deadlock persists
Bharat Bandh 2024 LIVE: Protesting farmers will stay put at the two borders of Punjab and Haryana over their various demands as the deadlock persisted despite the third round of talks with a panel of Union ministers.
A five-hour meeting, which started around 8:45 pm on Thursday, between three Union ministers and the farmer leaders remained inconclusive.
The two sides will now meet on February 18 for the fourth round of talks. The two previous rounds of dialogue on February 8 and 12 also remained inconclusive.
Union Agriculture and Farmer Welfare Minister Arjun Munda, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai represented the Centre at Thursday’s meeting over the farmer unions’ various demands, including a law guaranteeing a minimum support price (MSP) for crops.
Bharat Bandh 2024 LIVE: Elderly farmer dies of heart attack at Shambhu border
Bharat Bandh 2024 LIVE: A 63-year-old farmer, who was among the farmers protesting at the Shambhu border near Haryana’s Ambala, died of a heart attack on Friday, officials said.
Gian Singh complained of chest pain in the morning and was taken to the Civil Hospital in Punjab’s Rajpura. From there, he was rushed to Rajindra Hospital in Patiala, where doctors declared him brought dead, they said.
Singh, who hailed from Punjab’s Gurdaspur district had come to the Shambhu border two days ago to participate in the farmers’ ‘Delhi Chalo’ march aimed at pressing the government to accept their demands, including a legal guarantee of minimum support price (MSP) for crops.
Bharat Bandh 2024 LIVE: Farmers announce nationwide protest on 16 Feb. Banks, offices shut on Friday? Know details
A sectoral industrial strike and Grameen Bharat Bandh have been called by the workers and farmers on 16 February, Friday.
The farmers’ body Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) has urged all like-minded farmer organisations to unite and take part in the February 16 Bharat Bandh. The day-long protest will begin from 6 AM to 4 PM. Read here.
‘AAP, Congress, communist parties trying to benefit from protest’, says UP Deputy CM KP Maurya
On farmers’ protest, UP Deputy CM KP Maurya said, “…Senior leaders of the union govt is in continuous talk with the farmers and hence there shouldn’t have been any case for this protest… All these AAP, Congress and even the communist parties are trying to benefit from this but they won’t succeed as the farmers’ protest can’t be anarchist in nature and the talks are also on…”
Bharat Bandh 2024 LIVE: ‘Protestors are representing the farmers of whole country’, says MP Sanjay Raut
Bharat Bandh 2024 LIVE: On Farmers’ Protest, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut said, “The protestors are representing the farmers of the whole country. But the way they are being stopped is not right. So far, more than 100 farmers have been injured and many have been arrested. They have made huge prisons. While farmers are being oppressed in India, PM Modi is travelling abroad, Amit Shah has not uttered a word, and the agriculture minister has not been given the right to talk. Today the farmers have called for a Bharat Bandh but this message has not reached the entire nation. MVA will discuss the future of this agitation. Shiv Sena is in constant touch with the protestors…”
Bharat Bandh 2024 LIVE: Commuters left stranded as many buses stay off roads in Punjab
Bharat Bandh 2024 LIVE: Commuters in Punjab faced inconvenience on Friday as many buses stayed off the roads in response to the Samyukta Kisan Morcha’s call for a ‘Bharat Bandh’ to press the government to accept farmers’ demands including a legal guarantee of MSP. Punjab Roadways, Punbus and PRTC Contract Workers’ Union are supporting the Samyukta Kisan Morcha’s (SKM) bandh call. During the day, farmers will also hold demonstrations at many places in Punjab under the banner of the SKM. Many farmer bodies including Bharti Kisan Union (Rajewal), Bharatiya Kisan Union (Dakunda), Bharatiya Kisan Union (Lakhowal), Bharatiya Kisan Union (Qadian) and Kirti Kisan Union are taking part in the bandh.
Passengers were seen waiting for buses at many bus stands to reach their respective destinations. Mainly students and office-goers faced inconvenience because of the non-availability of buses. At the Patiala bus stand, a college student said he could not find any bus to go to Landran road. A government employee said he had to go to Mohali for work but no bus was available. At the Amritsar bus stand, a woman passenger who had to go to Jalandhar said she had been waiting for more than 30 minutes for a bus.
Bharat Bandh 2024 LIVE: Heavy traffic at Delhi-UP Ghazipur border
Bharat Bandh 2024 LIVE: Traffic snarls continue as commuters face delays and traffic jams entering into Delhi; visuals from Ghazipur border
Bharat Bandh 2024 LIVE: What did CAIT General Secretary Praveen Khandelwal said on farmers’ ‘Gramin Bharat Bandh’ today.
Bharat Bandh 2024 LIVE: “Not all businessmen of Delhi and the country are included in this bandh. Every market is open today. It’s not completely possible to find a solution through agitation, therefore, businessmen have decided to keep themselves away (from Bandh),” Praveen Khandelwal said.
Bharat Bandh 2024 LIVE: Farmers ‘hell bent’ on stopping lifeline of northern states, says Haryana govt
Bharat Bandh 2024 LIVE: Farmers’ unions are “hell bent” on stopping the lifeline of northern states and their movement has instilled a “sense of fear” among the people of the state, the Haryana government submitted before the Punjab and Haryana High Court on Thursday. The submission was filed in an affidavit before a division bench of Acting Chief Justice GS Sandhawalia and Justice Vikas Suri. The court had on Tuesday, while hearing a petition pertaining to the farmers’ ‘Delhi Chalo’ march, issued notices to the Centre, and the states of Haryana and Punjab, to file status reports.
Bharat Bandh 2024 LIVE: ‘We appeal to PM again… not a question of Punjab or Haryana alone’: Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher
Bharat Bandh 2024 LIVE: The General Secretary of Punjab Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee, Sarwan Singh Pandher on Friday urged an intervention on part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to address the farmers issues adding that they would like to solve the issues ‘amicably’.
Addressing a press conference on Friday, the farmer leader raised concerns over the central government’s use of para-military forces to resist the farmers that have left hundreds injured.
“The demands of the farmers and farm labourers of the country are united, everyone is fighting together. Look, now there are 54 serious injuries. The way the overall number is 400. People have suffered huge losses, so this is continuously happening. So we have raised most of these things in the meeting yesterday and we will again appeal to the Honorable Prime Minister through you.”
Bharat Bandh 2024 LIVE: Rajasthan Congress extends support to farmers’ bandh call
Bharat Bandh 2024 LIVE: Rajasthan Congress president Govind Singh Dotasra said on Thursday that the party will support the call of bandh by farmers for their demands, including a legal guarantee of minimum support price for their crops.
“Farmers have called for a bandh on Friday. The Congress has also decided to support the farmers’ strike call. We will remain with the farmers’ movement while ensuring that there is no violence, no damage to any government property,” Dotasra told reporters at a press conference.
Targeting the central government on the farmers’ movement, Dotasra said the BJP government at the Centre had made three “black laws” for a few industrialists and not for the benefit of farmers.
“The three black laws were imposed on the farmers for the benefit of a few industrialists and not for the benefit of farmers,” he said.
Accusing the government of adopting an “unfair attitude” towards the farmers, he said, “Today again when the farmers are protesting peacefully and are trying to express their views, they are being suppressed and bullets are being fired, tear gas is being released, they are being attacked with drones. In this democratic country, does noone have the right to protest and express their views?”
Bharat Bandh 2024 LIVE: Shops closed, no bus service in Punjab’s Moga after farmers’ ‘Bharat Bandh’ call
Bharat Bandh 2024 LIVE: Shops closed, no bus service in Punjab’s Moga after farmers’ ‘Bharat Bandh’ call, PTI has reported.
Bharat Bandh 2024 LIVE: Shops closed, no bus service in Punjab’s Moga after farmers’ ‘Bharat Bandh’ call
Bharat Bandh 2024 LIVE: In Punjab’s Moga, Shops are closed and no bus services are available, PTI reported.
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Bharat Bandh 2024 LIVE: Are farmers set to postpone protest march to Delhi?
Bharat Bandh 2024 LIVE: After the meeting between the central government and the farmer unions concluded, farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal says, “The protest will continue peacefully… We will not do anything else. We will appeal to the farmers too. When meetings are underway and we move forward (at the borders), then how will the meetings continue. They (Government) have called for a meeting, we will wait till then… On Sunday if we do not get any positive result, then (we will continue)…”
Bharat Bandh 2024 LIVE: Kirti Kisan Union leader Karmjeet Singh said on farmers’ protest
Bharat Bandh 2024 LIVE: “Our demands include the repeal of four labour codes, to double the days under MNREGA to 200, and to cancel the hit-and-run law. The whole country and Punjab is one and it’s supporting the ‘Bharat Bandh’,” Karmjeet Singh said.
Bharat Bandh 2024 LIVE: Mamata slams BJP over farmers protest; claims party runs ‘govt of Ravan’ at Centre
Bharat Bandh 2024 LIVE: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday launched a scathing attack on the BJP over the ongoing farmers’ protest, accusing them of governing like “Ravan” and surpassing all moral boundaries and showing a blatant disregard for “Lakshman Rekhas.”
Banerjee’s remarks, delivered in the assembly, included her decision to postpone a scheduled visit to Punjab as an expression of solidarity with the protesting farmers.
“Farmers are suffering, the entire country is burning. The BJP is laughing and the poor are being tortured. This is what BJP does. But the BJP is not bothered. It is the government of Ravan, which has crossed all Lakshman Rekhas,” Banerjee declared.
Bharat Bandh 2024 LIVE: What will be affected on 16 February
Transportation
Private offices
Agricultural activities
Village shops
Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA)-related activities
In Punjab, around 3,000 state-run buses remain grounded. Drivers and conductors unions are also participating in the nationwide Bharat bandh on Friday, expressing their disapproval of the Centre’s proposed hit-and-run law.
Bharat Bandh 2024 LIVE: Bharat Bandh today: Here’s why farmers have called for a nationwide strike?
Bharat Bandh 2024 LIVE: The reason why farmers unions including Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), called for a Gramin Bharat Bandh on Friday is to press their demands in front of Centre. The farmers are pushing for the legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price (MSP) for crops. The farmers are also demanding justice for victims of the violence in Uttar Pradesh’s Lakhimpur Kheri.
The farmers have also urged to scrap the Electricity Amendment Bill 2020. Also, an appeal to provide 200 days of employment per year and a daily wage of ₹700 under the MGNREGA, linking it with farming, has also been made by the farmers. Besides, the farmers are demanding the implementation of the Swaminathan Commission’s recommendations, pension for farmers and farm labourers, farm debt waiver, withdrawal of police cases, reinstatement of the Land Acquisition Act, 2013, and compensation for the families of the farmers who died during a previous agitation in 2020-21.
On Friday, farmers have been asked to shun work in farms, or not go to markets for any purchases. Traders and transporters have also been exhorted to join the Bharat Bandh protest
Bharat Bandh 2024 LIVE: ‘We are not from Pakistan’: Farmer leaders express concern over forces’ actions against protestors
Bharat Bandh 2024 LIVE: The farmers’ leaders, who held talks with the union ministers for more than five hours on Thursday night, have expressed their concerns over actions by the forces on the agitating cultivators and said that they do not seek ‘confrontation but a peaceful solution’. Expressing concern about the current environment, including the suspension of social media accounts and teargas shelling during peaceful interactions, Pandher said, “We said we are not Pakistan. We seek a peaceful solution, not confrontation. They assured us that our pages would be restarted… We assured them of our commitment to dialogue.”
He further said that the discussion was held to find a resolution to the issues.
“The discussion with the Centre was held on all the demands raised by us. We discussed to find a resolution to the issues. The ministers said that they require time. We hope that a peaceful solution is derived; avoid any conflict. Our programme to go to Delhi is still there,” Pandher added.
Bharat Bandh 2024 LIVE: What did Arjun Munda say after meeting with farmer unions?
Bharat Bandh 2024 LIVE: Union Minister Arjun Munda said, “Today, a very positive discussion happened between the government and the farmers’ unions. Focusing on the topics highlighted by the farmers’ union, we have decided that the next meeting will take place on Sunday at 6 pm… We all will find a solution peacefully…”
Bharat Bandh 2024 LIVE: Bus services remain shut in Moga, Punjab
Bharat Bandh 2024 LIVE: “Trade unions announced the strike for February 16 earlier. The government should have made the arrangements because people are worried. They (trade unions) have justified demands and the government should fulfill them,” says a local commuter.
Bharat Bandh 2024 LIVE: Punjab appeals Centre to direct Haryana govt to maintain peace in border areas
Bharat Bandh 2024 LIVE: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Friday said that he has requested the Centre to direct the Haryana government to ‘maintain peace’ in border areas in view of the farmers’ ‘Delhi Chalo’ agitation.
Meanwhile, the third round of talks between the Union ministers and the 14 farmer union leaders concluded after around five hours on Friday. It ended in a stalemate, with no common ground in sight, the next round of the talks will take place on Sunday at 6 pm.
Bhagwant Mann, while addressing the media after the meeting with union ministers, said that the deliberation took place on 13-14 demands put forward by the farmers.
“We have had the meeting in a positive environment on 13-14 demands. The next meeting will take place on Sunday… The Internet in the border areas has been suspended. This is causing problems for students during the examinations… I requested the Centre to direct the Haryana government to maintain peace in border areas,” Mann said.
Bharat Bandh 2024 LIVE: Noida Police to invoke CrPC 144 on Friday due to ‘Bharat Bandh’
Bharat Bandh 2024 LIVE: The Gautam Buddh Nagar Police on Thursday said restrictions under CrPC section 144, including a ban on unauthorised public assemblies, would be enforced across the district on February 16. The decision has been taken in view of proposed protest marches called by the farmers’ body Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) and other unions.
Bharat Bandh 2024 LIVE: 3,000 government buses in Punjab to remain off roads: Report
Bharat Bandh 2024 LIVE: As per Hindustan Times report, thousands of commuters are set to face disruptions as around 3,000 buses to remain off-road today. As per the report, driver, conductor unions affiliated with Punjab Roadways and PRTC are participating in the nationwide Bharat Bandh
Bharat Bandh 2024 LIVE: Will schools remain shut today; concerned parents appeal to reconsider strike amid CBSE exams
Speaking of today’s nationwide strike, the Bharat Bandh will not affect emergency services like ambulance operations, medical shops, marriage, schools, etc.
Earlier while speaking to news agency PTI on the nationwide bandh, a parents group had said that “as concerned parents, we are in agony and compelled to raise our voices against the proposed nationwide strike or bandh on February 16” and appeal it to reconsider their bandh call.
“Our children have been working hard while preparing for these examinations. However, their hard work could go in vain if they are unable to reach their examination centres due to railroad blockades and non-availability of transport services,” the concerned parents group said as quoted by news agency PTI.
Bharat Bandh 2024 LIVE: Noida police issues traffic advisory, imposes restrictions
Bharat Bandh 2024 LIVE: The Gautam Buddh Nagar Police on Thursday said restrictions under CrPC Section 144, including a ban on unauthorised public assemblies, would be enforced across the district in view of Bharat Bandh called by farmers’ unions on Friday.
The police also cautioned commuters going to Delhi and coming back from the capital city of traffic diversions in Noida and urged citizens to opt for metro rail service “as far as possible” to avoid inconvenience.
According to the order, unlawful assembly of five or more people, unauthorised processions or demonstrations, including political or religious, are prohibited.
The order also bars the use of private drones in a radius of one km of government establishments and also bans people from carrying sticks, rods, tridents, swords, firearms and the likes in public places.
In a traffic advisory, the police said intensive checking will be done by installing barriers on all the borders of Noida and Delhi by the police on both sides due to which there will be a pressure on vehicular movement and traffic would be diverted according to requirement.
“People going to Delhi please use Metro as much as possible to avoid traffic inconvenience. Arrival of all types of goods vehicles will be restricted on the route from Yamuna Expressway to Delhi via Noida-Greater Noida Expressway and from Sirsa to Surajpur via Pari Chowk. To avoid traffic inconvenience, drivers can use alternative routes to reach their destination,” the police said.
Bharat Bandh 2024 LIVE: Congress will enact law relating to MSP, says Kharge
Bharat Bandh 2024 LIVE: Expressing their solidarity with the protesting farmers Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said on Thursday that his party will give legal status to Minimum Support Price if it forms government after the Lok Sabha polls.
Farmers, who had embarked on ‘Delhi Chalo’ protest over their demands on Tuesday, have continued with their agitation.
“Understand the chronology of injustice done to farmers by Modi government. To win the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, Modi ji had promised to give input cost 50 pc MSP to the farmers. ‘Modi’s guarantee’ was rejected by his own government – with an affidavit filed in the Supreme Court in 2015, with an Agriculture Ministry’s RTI response in 2016,” Kharge said in a post on X.
Bharat Bandh 2024 LIVE: Traders to continue their business operations amidst Bharat Bandh called by farmers
Bharat Bandh 2024 LIVE: Amid farmer unions call for a Bharat Bandh protest today (February 16), traders are poised to continue their business operations uninterrupted, reaffirming their “commitment to serving communities and maintaining economic stability.”
BC Bhartia, President, and Praveen Khandelwal, Secretary General of the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) said that traders will keep their establishments open during the Bharat Bandh, emphasising their role in ensuring the availability of essential goods and services to the public, asserting their right to conduct business and support the economy.
“Despite the Bharat Bandh called by farmers on 16th Feb, traders nationwide stand resilient in their commitment to serve communities and maintain economic stability. As, Secretary General of CAIT, I emphasize the vital role traders play in our nation’s economy. We assert our right to conduct business, urging fellow traders to keep establishments open,” posted on X.
Bharat Bandh 2024 LIVE: What will remain open today?
Bharat Bandh 2024 LIVE: Emergency services such as ambulance operations, marriage, medical shops, school, etc., will not be affected during the Bharat Bandh on Friday
Bharat Bandh 2024 LIVE: Will banks, and offices remain shut?
Bharat Bandh 2024 LIVE: According to India.com, various private and government offices, and village shops may remain shut on Friday. Besides, transportation, agricultural activities, Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA) rural works, and rural industrial and service sector institutions are likely to remain closed.
Bharat Bandh 2024 LIVE: ‘Protest will continue peacefully…’, says farmer leader after the Govt
Bharat Bandh 2024 LIVE: After the meeting between the central government and the farmer unions concluded, farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal says, “The protest will continue peacefully… We will not do anything else. We will appeal to the farmers too. When meetings are underway and we move forward (at the borders), then how will the meetings continue. They (Government) have called for a meeting, we will wait till then… On Sunday if we do not get any positive result, then (we will continue)…”
Bharat Bandh 2024 LIVE: What are farmers’ demands?
Bharat Bandh 2024 LIVE: The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi demanding a Minimum Support Price for crops based on the Swaminathan formula of C2 50 (input cost of capital 50%), legal guarantee of procurement, debt waiver, no hike in electricity tariff and no smart metres.
They also demanded free 300 units of power for farming for domestic use and shops, comprehensive crop insurance, and a hike in pensions to ₹10,000 per month among others
Bharat Bandh 2024 LIVE: Section 144 imposed in Noida
Bharat Bandh 2024 LIVE: In view of the Bharat Bandh called by farmers’ unions on Friday, the Gautam Buddh Nagar Police on Thursday said restrictions under CrPC Section 144, including a ban on unauthorized public assemblies, would be enforced across the district, reported news agency PTI.
Bharat Bandh 2024 LIVE: Farmers announce nationwide protest on 16 Feb. Banks, offices shut on Friday? Know details
Bharat Bandh 2024 LIVE: According to India.com report, various private and government offices, and village shops is likely to remain shut today. Besides, transportation, agricultural activities, Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA) rural works, and rural industrial and service sector institutions are likely to remain closed. However, Emergency services such as ambulance operations, marriage, medical shops, school, etc., will not be affected during the Bandh.
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