A breakaway faction of Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) has called for ‘Dilli Chalo’ on February 13, while SKM itself has announced a ‘Gramin Bharat Bandh’ on February 16 to push for their outstanding demands in the farming sector, targeting the central government.
More than 200 Indian unions, including around 150 non-political SKM unions and 76 unions under Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee (KMSC), will march to Delhi on February 13. Punjab takes center stage in this protest, with convenors Jagjit Singh Dallewal and Sarwan Singh Pandher leading SKM and KMSC from Punjab.
Pandher stated, “Nearly 50 unions from Punjab and the rest from other states will join the protest. More unions are joining us each day.” The preparations in Punjab involve organizing tractor-trollies and gathering rations for the dharna.
On February 16, SKM’s nationwide protest will include trade unions, transport unions, truck unions, industrial workers, and government employees. Their demands include a minimum wage of Rs 26,000 per month, repealing four labor codes, guaranteed employment as a fundamental right, no privatization of PSUs, no contractualization of the workforce, scrapping fixed-term employment, strengthening MGNREGS with 200 days of work per person per year, and Rs 600 as the daily wage.
“We will hold a ‘chakka jam’ from February 16 morning till 4 pm. Farmers across India will protest on main highways, and we’ve asked them not to deliver milk and vegetables on that day. State buses and trucks will remain off roads,” said Raminder Singh Patiala, a member of SKM’s national coordination committee.
Meanwhile, SKM has distanced itself from the ‘Dilli Chalo’ protest call, clarifying that it has no connection with the decision of certain kisan organizations to protest in Delhi on February 13.
Darshan Pal, member of SKM’s national coordination committee, stated, “SKM has appealed to people across India to support the joint call for ‘industrial strike and gramin bandh’ on February 16. State and district-level coordination meetings are taking place to gather support from all sections of the people.”
Both factions share common demands, including MSP implementation on all crops, punishment for the Lakhimpur Kheri violence perpetrators, pensions for farmers above 58, proper implementation of ‘fasal bima yojna,’ and opposition to the Electricity Bill Amendment Act. Both groups have also extended support to truckers protesting against the new hit-and-run law.
