Thousands Across Bihar Join Human Chain Against Farm Laws

Patna: Ignoring biting cold and chilly winds, thousands of people, including a large number of women, farmers, farm labourers, workers, youths, students, teachers and others formed human chains across Bihar on Saturday in support of the farmers protesting against the three newly legislated farm laws. The call for the protest was given by the opposition Mahagathbandhan in the state to mark Martyrs' Day (January 30).

Holding placards, national flags, red and green party flags and banners in their hands, a large number of people across all age groups held hands and stood for half an hour--12.30 pm to 1 pm--on busy roads in towns as well as on national and state highways connecting all districts and blocks of the state in support of protesting farmers. They also shouted slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government and demanded the repeal of farm laws to save farmers.

Photo credit: Mohd Imran Khan

Large numbers of leaders and cadres belonging to the Mahagathbandhan parties comprising the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Congress and the Left parties – Communist Party of India (Marxist), Communist Party of India-Marxist Leninist and CPI, have joined the human chain. RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, CPI (ML) general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya, and most of the 110 MLAs of Mahagathbandhan participated in the human chain in Patna and other districts.

According to the Mahagathbandhan leaders, human chains were formed in all district headquarters, from sub-divisional to block-level towns, state highways, national highways and gram panchayats in the state.

“People's participation was massive in the human chain. This has made it clear that they are against these black laws,” said CPI (M) state secretary Awadesh Kumar.

CPI(ML) leader Kunal said that this human chain was the people's expression of support to farmers and opposition to farm laws. "We will intensify our protest against farm laws in the coming days in the state for ensuring MSP to farmers,” he said.

Reports reaching here from Jehanabad, Gaya, Araria, Kishanganj, Purnea, Katihar, Madhubani, Darbhanga, East and West Champaran, Begusarai, Muzaffarpur, Vaishali, Arwal, and Samastipur and other districts also indicated massive participation by people.

Photo credit: Mohd Imran Khan

 

The Mahagathbandhan had appealed to all non-NDA parties, non-political civil organisations, social activists, teachers and others to actively support the human chain. Kunal 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.

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.