The agitating farmers of India observed the 'Gramin Bharat Bandh' strike across the country. On Friday (February 16) from 6 am to 4 pm, a program to stop all activities related to farming and agriculture was observed across the country. At the same time traffic on the road called 'Chakka Jam' was stopped.
After three long years, India has once again become agitated by farmers' protests. Thousands of farmers with tractors and trucks are moving towards the capital New Delhi. Meanwhile, hundreds of police have been deployed to prevent their entry into the capital.
According to the Times of India report, farmers are currently staying along the borders of Punjab and Haryana states. The situation there is tense. In the meantime, there have been severe clashes between the police and the farmers.
The police are firing tear gas at farmers to disperse the protest. Drones are also being used to fire tear gas. Farmers are also trying to repel the police by throwing bricks and stones.
Three years ago in 2021, the farmers of the country started a movement to demand the repeal of three laws related to agriculture by the central government of India. For several months, intense agitation spread over a wide area.
At that time the police registered cases against many farmers. Now the farmers have started a movement demanding withdrawal of those cases, legal guarantee of minimum support price of crops and waiver of all agricultural loans.
The nationwide agitation called by Indian farmers' organizations entered four days on Friday (February 16). Last Tuesday (February 13) morning, the farmers started their march towards the capital Delhi with a procession called 'Delhi Chalo'.
Farmer leaders decided to go ahead with the march as talks with the three central government ministers failed till Monday (February 14) night. Then on Thursday (February 15) the third round of meeting was held. But there was no breakthrough. As a result, the march towards Delhi continues.
Along with the 'Delhi Chalo' march, the farmer leaders called for a 'Grameen Bharat Bandh' on Friday. From 6 am to 4 pm, farmers across the country have been asked to stop all kinds of farming and agricultural activities and stop traffic on roads.
As a result, activities like transport and agriculture have come to a standstill. The supply of milk and vegetables has also decreased in the city.
According to reports, police have barricaded the national highway from Haryana and Uttar Pradesh towards Delhi with layers of concrete and nails and barbed wire fences.
State and central police forces have also been deployed at multiple levels. Meanwhile, Section 144 has been issued in the capital Delhi for the next one month.
Farmers are trying to break those barricades with tractors and sticks. News organizations have published such videos. According to reports, the police fired tear gas when they tried to break the barricade on the road from Haryana to Delhi. Clashes then broke out between the police and the farmers which continued intermittently.
Police were also seen firing tear gas at farmers on Friday, according to a Times of India report. Farmers are throwing stones and bricks in return. Meanwhile, the farmers' agitation has led to long traffic jams at the Gazipur border near Delhi.
