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There have been nearly two years of farmers protesting against the three farm laws. The farmers, particularly from Punjab and Haryana, are again on the roads and heading towards Delhi with their demands. The national capital is set on high alert. Police in Haryana and Delhi have made massive security arrangements on the borders of Haryana-Punjab and Haryana-Delhi to prevent farmers from entering the national capital.
What are the demands of farmers?
Farmers demanded a legal guarantee of the minimum support price for all crops.
Waving off the debt of the farmers and labourers and providing a monthly pension of 10,000 rupees.
Abrogation of the Land Acquisition Act 2013.
Employing the MNREGA scheme for at least 200 days annually.
Penalising all accusers of the Lakhimpur Kheri incident.
Revoking the Electricity Amendment Bill 2020
Farming a National Commission for Spices
keeping farmers exempt from pollution losses.
Imposition of a ban on free trade agreements.
Strict loss and punishment should be elected against companies producing fake fertilisers and pesticides.
Farmers also demanded compensation and government jobs for the families of the farmers who were killed during the protest.
The call of Gramin Bharat Bandh
The breakaway faction of SKM and Central trade unions called for the Gramin Bharat Bandh on Friday, which be gained at 6:00 a.m. and was concluded at 4:00 p.m. The protesting farmers have participated in massive Chakka Jaams across the major highways. In response, the police have fired tear gas on the protesting farmers at the Punjab-Haryana border. Also, Section 144 has been imposed for the International Capital Region, and all large gatherings have been banned.
Kisan Aandolan 1.0 vs. 2.0
In Kisan Aandolan 1.0, around 40 farmer organisations from Punjab, Haryana, and western Uttar Pradesh participated under the banner of Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), which is the coalition of farmers unions formed in November 2020. But unlike the previous protest, the Kisan Aandolan 2.0 is led by the breakaway factions of Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM).
Also, some of the prominent farmer leaders who were the prima facie of Kisan Aandolan 1.0, namely, Yogendra Yadav Gurnam Singh and Chaduni Joginder Singh Ugrahan Rakesh Tikait, Balbir Singh Rajewal, Manjit Rai, and Shiv Kumar Kakka distanced themselves from ongoing farmer agitation because they opined that this farmer agitation lacks intensity as it has been supported by only a few numbers of farmer organizations. Also, there is a suspicion that the ‘Delhi Chalo campaign’ has indirectly been sponsored by the Punjab government.
Responses and reactions
Rakesh Tikait, a prominent former leader of the Bhartiya Kisan Union, believes that the ongoing agitation consists of some radical elements and is trying to create communal differences. Tikait also said that they are providing issue-based support to the farmers and that SKM is planning a separate mass protest in March if the government does not address their concerns.
Gurnam Singh Chandni, a prominent former leader from Haryana, said that there is no need to make any law on MSP. Written assurance from the government site is enough, and on the question of joining the protest, he said that he has not been invited to the Delhi Chalo March.
Farmer-Government talks
Parallel to the ongoing farmers’ protest, three unsuccessful rounds of dialogue between farmers and the government were already held. During the talks, farmers stressed the legal guarantee of the MSP, which has been pending for the last two years. According to sources, the government is ready to negotiate with farmers, but the discussions have remained inconclusive yet. The next round of talks is scheduled for Sunday, February 18.
