As the deadlock continues between farmers and the Centre, the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), a coalition of farm unions that led the 2020-21 protests, kicked off the Bharat Bandh today, citing a host of unmet demands of farmers, including a legal guarantee of minimum support price ( MSP) for their crops.

Many farmer bodies including Bharti Kisan Union (Rajewal), Bharatiya Kisan Union (Dakunda), Bharatiya Kisan Union (Lakhowal), Bharatiya Kisan Union (Qadian) and Kirti Kisan Union are taking part in the bandh.

While the Gramin Bharat Bandh will run from 6 am to 4 pm, farmers will join a massive 'chakka jam' on main roads nationwide from 12 pm to 4 pm. In Punjab, most of the state and national highways will be closed for four hours. However, 'chakka jam' in various parts of Punjab such as Sangrur, Bathinda, Mansa, and Barnala started before schedule around 10 am.

'We will hold a 'chakka jam' from February 16 morning till 4 pm. Farmers from their villages will stage protests on main state and national highways in all the states of India. We have asked farmers not to deliver milk and vegetables on that day. State buses and trucks will also remain off roads. Railway unions are yet to get back to us. It will be a sort of 'Bharat Bandh',' said Raminder Singh Patiala, member, national coordination committee, SKM.

SKM NCC members said skits, nukkad natak (street theatre), poetry, songs etc will also be staged during the protest rallies in villages and on the roads highlighting the plight of farmers and workers.

However, speaking to PTI, CAIT General Secretary Praveen Khandelwal said, 'Not all businessmen of Delhi and the country are included in this Bharat Bandh. Every market is open today. It's not completely possible to find a solution through agitation, therefore, businessmen have decided to keep themselves away (from Bandh).'

Khandelwa suggested negotiations and talks for farmer grievances rather than agitations; urging all stalkholders to withdraw their protests.

In light of the bandh, Delhi Police is on high alert.