Bharat bandh on March 26, farmers' unions call for strike as their protest completes four months

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New Delhi: The protesting farmer unions on Wednesday called for a Bharat bandh on March 26 as they would complete four months of their agitation at the Delhi borders against the Centre's three new farm laws.

Farmer leader Buta Singh Burjgill said, "We will observe a complete Bharat bandh on March 26, when our protest against the three farm laws completes four months. The peaceful bandh will remain effective from morning till evening,"

He also said that the farmers along with trade unions will protest the hike in fuel prices and privatisation of railways on March 15. While on March 19, the farmers will observe "Mandi Bachao-Kheti Bachao" day.

The farmer unions have also decided to celebrate 'Shaheedi divas' of Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev, Burjgill added.

Farmers leaders also said that copies of the new farm laws will be burnt during 'Holika Dahan' on March 28.

Thousands of farmers, mostly from Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh, have been camping at the borders leading to Delhi; Singhu, Tikri and Ghazipur for nearly four months, demanding the repeal of three farm laws and a legal guarantee on the minimum support price (MSP) for their crops.

The protesting farmers have expressed apprehension that these laws would pave the way for the dismantling of the MSP system, leaving them at the "mercy" of big corporations.

However, the government has maintained that the new laws will bring better opportunities to farmers and introduce new technologies in agriculture.