After ‘rail roko’, farmer unions are now gearing up for a nationwide strike on Friday to protest against the three Farm Bills

• More than 20 farmer unions are planning to hold a nationwide strike — the 'Bharat Bandh' call — on Friday to protest against the Farm Bills passed by Parliament.
  
• These unions are already protesting in various states, including Haryana and Punjab.
  
• Farmer unions are urging President Ram Nath Kovind to hold approval on these Bills.

More than 20 farmer unions are planning to hold a nationwide strike — the 'Bharat Bandh' call — on Friday to protest against the Farm Bills passed by Parliament. These unions are already protesting in various states, including Haryana and Punjab.

“There will be nationwide unrest if MSP is not guaranteed and the food security of the poor is handed over to multinationals and corporates," V.M. Singh, convener of the All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee, said.

The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020, and The Farming Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020, were passed by voice vote in Rajya Sabha on Sunday. They await the President's nod to become laws.

These unions are urging President Ram Nath Kovind not to approve these Bills.

The protest intensified after farmers in Punjab began their three-day 'rail roko'. Activists of Bhartiya Kisan Union (Ekta Ugrahan) squatted on rail tracks in Barnala and Sangrur on Thursday morning.

They say that the bills would pave the way for dismantling the minimum support price system, leaving them at the mercy of big corporates.

Railways had to partially cancel as many as 20 trains, while five have been short terminated due to the massive protest.

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