After the massive spontaneous response and huge participation of farmers and workers in the Grameen Bharat Bandh and Industrial /Sectoral Strike on 16 February, SKM has now decided to immediately intensify the agitation with multiple calls for massive actions in coordination with workers and all other sections of the people.

Groundxero|18 February, 2024

On 16 February, 2024, the Grameen Bharat Bandh and Industrial /Sectoral Strike called by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) and Joint Platform of Central Trade Unions (JPCTUs) to press for their joint 21 Point Charter of Demands saw massive demonstrations and protest rallies all over the country in which lakhs of people participated with enthusiasm. Workers struck work and organised huge demonstrations, students joined them by boycotting classes while youth and women also participated widely. The day witnessed one of the largest ever mass actions of the people in Independent India, and it has helped to bring back the people’s livelihood issues in the national agenda just ahead of the forthcoming general election to Lok Sabha.

The strike action on 16 February was preceded by multiple coordinated and joint farmers’ and workers unions actions at the grassroots like Black Day observation on 3rd October 2023, three days Mahapadav protest on 26-28 November 2023 in State Capitals and a massive Tractor– Vehicle Rally in districts on 26th January, 2024.

After the massive spontaneous response to the strike on 16 February, SKM has now decided to immediately intensify agitation with multiple calls for massive actions in coordination with workers and all other sections of the people to achieve MSP, loan waiver, and policy change to end farmers’ suicide.

SKM has called up on farmers across India to hold mass protest against the Members of Parliament of BJP and NDA on 21st February. In Punjab, SKM has decided to hold day and night mass protests in front of the houses of MPs, MLAs, Ministers and district presidents of BJP for three days, starting from 10 am on 20th February.

In a press statement, SKM said that it is unfortunate that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has shown full sympathy to the Corporate Companies, but has unleashed repression on farmers with lathi-charge, pellet firing, tear gas sprays, use of drones, road blockades, house to house threats and adopting a ‘war like approach’ towards the protesting farmers. SKM vehemently condemned the injury caused to three farmers in Shambhu, who have lost their vision. SKM said that the Mr. Modi’s government is blinding the farmers to serve the exploiting Big Businessmen.

SKM accused the Modi government of deliberately vitiating the atmosphere on farmers’ issues and hoodwinking people into believing that it is sincere. SKM pointed out that Narendra Modi had promised a committee to consider MSP and other demands in December 2021. But seven months later, the government formed a committee with those who were openly opposed to giving MSP and added Crop Diversification and Zero Budget Natural Farming on its agenda. SKM said that Narendra Modi is currently mocking negotiations by sending ministers to the agitators at Shambhu to fool the people and keeping the points and progress in the discussion ‘secret’, thus putting the farmers of the entire country in the dark.

SKM has called up on farmers across India to hold mass protest against the Members of Parliament of BJP and NDA on 21st February with the demands of implementing the agreement with SKM on 9th December 2021 including MSP@C2+50% with guaranteed procurement, comprehensive loan waiver, no privatization of electricity, dismiss and prosecute Ajay Mishra Teni Union Mos (Home) the main conspirator of farmers massacre in Lakhimpur Kheri and stop the repression of farmers on agitation at Punjab borders with similar demands.

In Punjab, SKM has decided to hold day and night mass protests in front of the houses of MP’s, MLAs, Ministers and district presidents of BJP for three days, starting from 10 am on 20th February.

The National Coordination Committee of the SKM will meet on 21st February followed by the General Body will meet on 22nd February at New Delhi to take stock of the situation and decide future plans of action to intensify the ongoing struggles.

SKM has appealed to the Joint Platform of Central Trade Unions, various mass organisations to extend solidarity and expose the anti- farmer, anti-democratic, repressive and dictatorial attitude of Modi government towards farmers’ struggle.

The feature image is a collage of various demonstrations and protests across India on 16 February, 2024.