Farmer unions call for Bharat bandh on March 26 as protests complete 4 months

March 10, 2021

NEW DELHI, INDIA - JANUARY 29: Farmer warm themselves around a bonfire at Ghazipur (Delhi-UP border) during the ongoing protest against the new farm laws, on January 28, 2021 near New Delhi, India. Bharatiya Kisan Union spokesperson Rakesh Tikait on Thursday evening addressed the protesters and said he would not leave the site. His emotional video went viral and several farmers from Haryana and western UP started joining protest after watching his video where he said he would commit suicide at the camp if the administration used force. (Photo by Amal KS/Hindustan Times via Getty Images)

Farmers Protests — NEW DELHI, INDIA - JANUARY 29: Farmer warm themselves around a bonfire at Ghazipur (Delhi-UP border) during the ongoing protest against the new farm laws, on January 28, 2021 near New Delhi, India. Bharatiya Kisan Union spokesperson Rakesh Tikait on Thursday evening addressed the protesters and said he would not leave the site. His emotional video went viral and several farmers from Haryana and western UP started joining protest after watching his video where he said he would commit suicide at the camp if the administration used force. (Photo by Amal KS/Hindustan Times via Getty Images)

New Delhi, March 10

Farmer unions on Wednesday called for a Bharat bandh on March 26, when their protest at Delhi’s borders against the Centre’s three new farm laws completes four months.

Farmer leader Buta Singh Burjgill said farmers along with trade unions will protest the hike in fuel prices and privatisation of railways on March 15.

“We will observe a complete Bharat bandh on March 26, when our protest against the three farm laws completes four months. The peaceful bandh will remain effective from morning till evening,” he told reporters at the Singhu border.

On March 19, the farmers will observe “Mandi Bachao-Kheti Bachao” day, he said.

The farmer unions have also decided to celebrate ‘Shaheedi divas’ of Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev, Burjgill added.

Farmers’ leaders also said that copies of the new farm laws will be burnt during ‘Holika Dahan’ on March 28.

Thousands of farmers, mostly from Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh, have been camping at the Delhi border points—Singhu, Tikri and Ghazipur—for over four months, demanding the repeal of farm laws and a legal guarantee on the minimum support price (MSP) for their crops.

The protesting farmers have expressed apprehension that these laws would pave the way for the dismantling of the MSP system, leaving them at the “mercy” of big corporations.

However, the government has maintained that the new laws will bring better opportunities to farmers and introduce new technologies in agriculture.