A committee of three Union Ministers will again hold talks with farmer leaders in Chandigarh this evening amid the ongoing standoff between the protesting farmers and security personnel on the Punjab-Haryana border. Meanwhile, big news is coming regarding the farmers’ movement. Farmers have called for Bharat Bandh on 16 February. Bandh has been called by United Kisan Morcha and Central Trade Unions. During the bandh, demonstrations will be held from 6 am to 4 pm.
Internet services suspended in some parts of Punjab till February 16 in view of farmers’ agitation
Internet services have been suspended till February 16 on the orders of the Home Ministry in some areas of Patiala, Sangrur and Fatehgarh Sahib districts of Punjab. This order has been given in view of the ‘Delhi Chalo’ march of farmers.
Internet service suspended in these areas
According to the order of the ministry, internet connection will be restricted in areas under police stations Shatrana, Saamna, Ghanour, Devigarh and Balbhera in Patiala, areas under police stations Khanauri, Moonak, Lehra, Sunam, Chhajli in Sangrur and areas under Fatehgarh Sahib police station. Services will remain suspended. The Haryana government has already suspended mobile internet and SMS services in Ambala, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Jind, Hisar, Fatehgarh and Sirsa districts. The ministry said in the order dated February 12, in exercise of the power conferred by sub-rule 1 of rule 2 of the Temporary Suspension of Telecommunication Services (Public Emergency or Public Safety) Rules, 2017 read with Section 7 of the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885 and In the interest of maintaining public safety and to avert public emergency, it is necessary and expedient to order temporary suspension of internet services in these areas from 6 pm on February 12, 2024 to 11:59 pm on February 16, 2024.
Will banks and offices remain closed?
Farmers have called for a nationwide strike regarding their demands. United Kisan Morcha has urged all farmer organizations to support Bharat Bandh. Regarding the bandh, there is a possibility that transport, agricultural activities, MNREGA, rural work, private offices, village shops and rural industrial and service sector institutions may remain closed. However, no holiday has been announced in banks and offices. All emergency services will not be affected during the bandh.
Protesting farmers held a meeting on the railway track and demonstrated
Protesting farmers from Rajpura, Patiala, Punjab demonstrated strongly by sitting on the railway tracks at Rajpura railway station. Train movement was also affected due to the protest.
Farmers protesting against these demands
Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha march to Delhi to put pressure on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led central government with their demands including enacting a law to guarantee Minimum Support Price (MSP) for crops and loan waiver. Leading the march.