Farmers Movement Archive

Kisan mahapanchayats across J’khand in run up to Bharat bandh

Ranchi: The Jharkhand Rajya Kisan Sangharsh Samanvaya Samiti (JRKSSS) is planning to hold kisan mahapanchayats across the state ahead of the Bharat bandh called by Sanyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) later this month to ensure the strike’s success. “Our organization will gear up for the nationwide protest by holding kisan mahapanchyats across the state. The Bharat bandh will be historic day in Jharkhand,” JRKSSS convenor Sufal Mahto said on Thursday. JRKSSS has already held meetings to discuss ways to make the strike a success. Besides the Bharat bandh on March 26, SKM has planned an array of activities this month to register their protest against the central farm laws. On March 19, SKM and its affiliated units will hold demonstrations at local markets “to save agriculture”. Farmers from across the country will gather at the Delhi borders to mark the martyrdom day of Shahid Bhagat Singh on March 23. On March 28, the farmers would burn copies of the new farm laws. Mahto said that JRKSSS will conduct a meeting to decide whether to send farmers from Jharkhand to Delhi for the March 23 programme. He added, “In either case the farmers will hold marches across the state to mark the martyrdom of Bhagat Singh.” Trade unions affiliated to the Left parties will also support the Bharat bandh. Prakash Viplav, who is the state general secretary of Centre of Indian Trade Unions, said, “The unions will hold a massive demonstration near the Governor’s house in support of the bandh.” Meanwhile, farm bodies and trade unions are also preparing for the joint protest called by SKM and the trade unions against the privatization of PSUs, corporatization, labour law amendments and rising unemployment on March 15. The general secretary of All India Trade Union Congress P K Ganguly said that farmers and traders will hold a joint protest across 100 railway stations in Jharkhand. The trade unions have also extended support to the two-day bank strike which would be followed by a countrywide insurance strike.

The Times of India

2021-03-12

Ranchi