BKU's Rakesh Tikait Announces 'Bharat Bandh' On Feb 16 Over Law On MSP Guarantee, Unemployment

BKU's Rakesh Tikait said that not only farmers' groups but traders and transporters have also been asked to support the cause and observe a work strike on February 16.

The national spokesperson of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) Rakesh Tikait announced on Wednesday that farmers would be holding a "Bharat Bandh" on February 16 in protest of several national issues, including the failure to enact a law that ensures maximum support price (MSP) for crops. He said that not only farmers' groups but also traders and transporters have also been asked to support the cause and observe a work strike that day.

"We have called for a 'Bharat bandh' on February 16. Several farmers' groups are part of it, including the Sanyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM). Farmers should also not go to their farms on that day and strike work. Earlier also farmers skipped the day of 'Amavasya' from working on the fields. Likewise, February 16 is 'Amavasya' only for farmers. They should not work that day and resort to 'agriculture strike'. This will send a big message in the country," he said in Muzaffarnagar, as per news agency PTI.

Further, he added "We are also appealing to traders (for support) and people should also not make any purchase that day. We appeal to shopkeepers to keep their shops closed in support of the farmers and labourers."

On the objective of the call of the strike, he stated that there are various reasons for calling the strike. "The chief among reasons is the law on MSP Guarantee, unemployment, the Agniveer scheme, pension scheme is also a big issue in the country for the people retiring from service," Tikait said.

"We are also appealing to traders (for support) and people should also not make any purchase that day. We appeal to shopkeepers to keep their shops closed in support of the farmers and labourers," he also said.

He clarified that other organisations will also be taking part in this strike, so it wouldn't just be a farmers' strike. He claimed that on February 16, the transporters' community, which had recently demonstrated against the new strict law against drivers of cars involved in collisions, has also been invited to go on strike.

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