Government and their supporters tried even to isolate them by setting the narrative that anti-national elements and terrorist organizations are funding the agitation, and many who spoke in support of farmers were booked under sedition, their houses raided, implicated in cases, and even arrested. Many countries sympathized with the agitating farmers and even Supreme Court of India tried to intervene nothing worked. Modi government is adamant on implementing the three farm laws it has enacted and the farmers are not ready to end their agitation unless the government withdraws the same. Government claims the laws would greatly benefit the farmers, and the farmers believe the legislations are anti-farmers. All non-BJP political parties are supporting the farmers’ demand, and SAD, an important ally of the BJP has left NDA in protest of the laws.

One of the narratives of the government and their supporters suggested that the greater number of the agitators were not even farmers. When it failed to have any impact of the people’s mind, the narrative changed to make people believe that the agitating farmers are mainly from Punjab and Haryana and farmers of the rest of the country are not supporting the agitation. However, the agitation soon spread to other parts of the country and found support from even transporters and trade unions. All India protests and closure (bandh) were also organized.

Then our Prime Minister came with his suggestion that the farmers are misinformed, and government was ready to talk with the farmers, and even to halt the implementation of the laws for 18 months. Several rounds of talks between the representatives from both sides were held but did not yield any result. Government was not ready to repeal the laws and farmers were not ready to accept anything short of the demanded repeal. The Supreme Court of India had even suggested that government put on hold the laws and had formed a committee for negotiation on the issues. It also failed because the committee had members who were known to have formerly supported government line of agriculture market reform, and the farmers refused them to accept as negotiators.

The agitation has slowly been acquiring several serious social, economic, and political dimensions. In Punjab and Haryana, the social fabric is fast deteriorating, and is being felt in all the agricultural market towns. These states are known serving as the ‘bowl of grain’ for the country for a long time, and if the public procurement suffers, the country will have to face a serious level of food ‘insecurity’. These states are the main beneficiaries of the older system of FCI purchase on MSP, and therefore government cannot brush aside the issue by telling the people that the farmers of only these two states are agitating against the three laws. The farmers of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra etc have also come out with big protest rallies. Its political dimension is more disturbing, first for the BJP, and then for all other political parties. In Punjab, people were so angry that they threatened the BJP candidates to welcome them with ‘wreaths of shoes’ if they come for election campaign during the civic polls. BJP could not even campaign. It was a disturbing political dimension. Farmers and workers have now joined hands and have launched political campaigns against the BJP in the five states going to polls. ‘Farmers becoming political’ is a significant development, given their remaining apolitical during the agitation.

The passage of these controversial agri-market reform laws in September 2020 has been fought by farmers right from the beginning. Local protests were organized in several parts of the country, but chiefly in Punjab. After two months the farmers unions of Punjab and Haryana gave a call for “Dilli Chalo” and moved towards Delhi in tens of thousands. Protestors were attacked with water cannons, batons, and tear gas to prevent them entering Delhi and Haryana. Farmers braved it all and reached the Delhi boarders. A nationwide general strike was observed on November 26, and within four days around 2-3 lakh farmers converged at various borders on the way to Delhi. Road and rail blockades etc were also observed but the agitators remained by and large peaceful.

On the Republic Day, January 26, tens of thousands of farmers held a farmers’ parade parallel to the Republic Day parade in which a large convoy of tractors drove into Delhi. It is still a matter of investigation as to how number of protestors deviated from the sanctioned route, clashed with police, installed farmers union flags, and even ‘Khalistan flag’ on the rampart of the Red Fort. There are suspicions from both the side, farmers claimed it was stage-managed by the Government to defame the protestors, and the government claiming it a handiwork of the anti-nationals. Due to police actions following the incidents many of the agitating farmers had to leave the protest sites. However, after initial setbacks, an upsurge in the agitation is being noticed in other states too.

As of March 5, the farmers demand included 10 items with repeal of the controversial laws is number 1. The agitation is led by Samyukta Kisan Morcha in which scores of farmers’ union are participating. Government has been trying to split the unity of the farmers, in which it has gained a limited success too. Dozens of farmers unions have changed their stance and are supporting the government line, but they don’t have much support base among the farmers. The agitating farmers have decided to further intensify their agitation. Modi government is still relying on their narrative of international conspiracy, action against agitators and their supporters, and weakening the strength of farmers in due course of time. Farmers have also found their sympathizers and support both in India and abroad. Even US, UK, Australia, Canada, UN, IMF have urged Government of India to consider the farmers’ demand along with numerous academicians, journalists, and eminent personalities. (IPA Service)