Bihar: Mahagathbandhan Gears up for Human Chain Against Farm Laws on Jan 30

Patna: Following the success of thousands of farmers joining tractor marches across Bihar on Republic Day, the Opposition Mahagathbandhan is now busy in the final preparations for a massive human chain on January 30, in support of the farmers protesting against the three newly legislated farm laws.

According to the Mahagathbandhan leaders, human chains will be formed in all district headquarters, sub divisional to block level towns, state highways, national highway and gram panchayats in the state. They have appealed to people and requested civil societies to join the human chain to express solidarity with protesting farmers.

Ignoring the biting cold, leaders and workers of the Mahagathbandhan, comprising the Rashtriya Janata Dal, Congress and the Left parties – Communist Party of India (Marxist), Communist Party of India-Marxist Leninist and CPI, have been campaigning at the grassroots level to garner support for the human chain.

“It will be a historic event in the state as we will ensure participation of all sections from rural to urban areas. We are mobilising farmers, farm labourers, workers, women, youths, students, teachers and others for the human chain,” said CPI (M) state secretary Awadesh Kumar.

The CPI(M) leader added that their party had organised tractor marches at different places and organised dharna and meetings across rural parts on January 26. They are also taking out a padyatra to garner support against the three farm laws and mobilise farmers for the human chain.
 

Also read: Bihar: Opposition Mahagathbandhan Calls Upon Farmers to Form Human Chain Against Farm Laws on Jan 30

CPI (ML) leader Dhirendar Jha said that they have appealed to all non-NDA parties, non-political civil organisations, social activists, teachers and others to actively support the human chain. He said leaders and workers of Akhil Bhartiya Khet Evam Gramin Majdoor Sabha, All India Students’ Association, All India Central Council of Trade Unions have been campaigning among students and workers to mobilise people for the human chain.

Detailing the plan of action, Jha told NewsClick that in Patna, the human chain will be formed from Digha to Gandhi Maidan, Phulwari Sharif to Patna junction, JP Golambar to Buddha Smriti Park, and Gandhi Setu to Zero mile. “The human chain will be formed to surround Patna from all sides. There will be human chains in Vikram, Paliganj, Dulhin Bazar, Masaurhi and Dhanarua in Patna district,” he added.

According to him, more than 50 tractors took part in the march in Phulwari Sharif on Republic Day while more than 1,000 tractors participated in Darbhanga, Samastipur, Begusarai, Vaishali, Muzaffarpur, Buxar, Arwal, Bhojpur, Katihar and Araria districts of the state.

Meanwhile, RJD and Congress have also been organising meetings at district and block levels to mobilise people for the human chain. While appealing to the people to join the human chain, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav tweeted on January 27 that the farmers of Bihar have been suffering since the removal of APMCs in the state and that they are unable to sell their produce at MSP.

RJD state president Jagdanand Singh has given responsibility to 40 party leaders across the state to ensure massive participation and success of the human chain in their respective areas, according to party leader Bhai Virender.

The Mahagathbandhan has organised several protests against the farm laws in the past month, in view of the fact that nearly two-thirds of Bihar’s total population of 12 crore is dependent on agriculture for their livelihood. Most of them are small and marginal farmers, as per government data.