The Bharat bandh called by groups representing dalits, farmers and ex-servicemen on Thursday seems to have fizzled out as dalit groups called off their protests. The dalits were protesting against various atrocities faced by the community and against a Supreme Court order on the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
The dalit group All India Ambedkar Mahasabha (AIAM), All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) and Indian Ex Servicemen Movement (IESM) were to join hands for the Bharat bandh on Thursday.
The dalit groups had alleged that the Supreme Court had diluted the SC/ST Act in an order in March. However, with the Narendra Modi government already passing a proposal for amending the act to 'nullify' the SC order, the dalit groups decided to call off participation in the Bharat bandh.
The AIKS, which is upset over the Modi government's perceived inaction on the agrarian crisis, however, is continuing with a 'jail bharo' in 400 districts across the country. Scientist M.S. Swaminathan had expressed his support for the movement that calls for the Modi government to step down.
Coincidentally, August 9 is also Quit India Day.
Crop loan waiver, remunerative crop prices through minimum support price (MSP) based on the recommendations of the Swaminathan Commission, land reforms and halting of forced land acquisition are some of the major demands of the farmers, said AIKS general secretary Hannan Mollah.
According to reports, there has been a 26 per cent increase in farmer suicides in the last four years and farmers have incurred losses close to Rs 2 lakh crore. The farmers also want the government to implement a pension of Rs 5,000 per month to small and marginal farmers, who crossed 60 years of age under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana.