Kisan Andolan 2.0- Reasons, Demand And Strategy For Protests After 2 Years?

Nearly after two years, the farmers, mainly from the areas of Punjab, Haryana and Western Uttar Pradesh had laid siege to Delhi in protest against the three farm laws which were introduced by the government, the farmers are again marching to Delhi on February 13th to register their protest. 

With prior experience, while expecting another siege of Delhi, the Haryana police and the Delhi police have established massive security arrangements, sealing borders between Punjab and Haryana, UP and Delhi so as to deter the farmers from entering the national capital.

The protests last time were held to make demands in order to repeal the farm laws which were passed by the Government, the laws were later taken back by the Government, hence ending the protests. This time, however the protests are being held to demand a list of measures from the Central Government, which according to the farmers are necessary for financial viability of farming.

Who are Leading the Protests ?

• During the farmer protests earlier, almost every farmer organisations in Punjab, Haryana and Western Uttar Pradesh, which were more than 40 in numbers, came together under the banner of the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM). 
• However, this time a faction of the previous Morcha is leading the protests. The Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (non-political) this time excludes major farmer leaders who lead the protests last time including Shri Darshan Pal, Joginder Singh Ugrahan, Rakesh Tikait, Balbir Singh Rajewal and Gurnam Singh Charuni.
• SKM (non-political) which is leading the protests this time includes BKU (Dallewal) under the leadership of Jagjit Singh Dallewal and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha which is led  by Sarvan Singh Pandher. 
• SKM ( non political) claims a support of 17 farm organisations with Pandher and Dallewal from Punjab, Abhimanyu Kohar from the state of Haryana are the faces of faces of SKM (non-political) this time, who have initiated the Delhi Chalo march on February 13th.
• The farmer leaders who lead the protests last time are more likely in a wait and watch situation, while others like Rakesh Tikait have announced the call for Bharat Bandh dated on February 16th. 

Demands of the Farmers-Earlier

The earlier protests held were against the three farm laws introduced by the government which had promised remunerative prices to the farmers by, with an objective of ensuring a doubled income to the farmers by linking them to open markets. The farmers at the time, however, rejected the newly introduced laws, as they claimed that the new laws will put them at the mercy of private companies.

Present demands-

• MSP- One of the main demands this time, which was again a part of the demands  made besides the repeal of farm laws during earlier protests, is a legal guarantee of minimum support price (MSP) for all crops.
• The Government, every year, sets MSP for nearly two dozen commodities, on the basis of the recommendations made by the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices. These crops provided under the MSP are generally grown in the regions of Punjab and Haryana, which are mainly wheat and rice produce, which also supports the public distribution system by the Government. 
• Debt waiver: Implementation of the recommendations by the Swaminathan Commission to provide debt waivers.
• Land Acquisition: Compensation for the land acquired by different  authorities for any developmental project, as well as reservation of 10 per cent of residential plots on developed lands for the families of the farmers. 
• World Trade Organisation (WTO): Withdrawal from the WTO and an  imposition of ban on the Free Trade Agreements (FTA). 
• Lakhimpur Kheri massacre: A demand for the punishment of perpetrators involved with the massacre and delivering justice to the farmers.
• Pension: to the farmers and farm labourers. 
• Electricity Amendment Bill 2020: Another demand to scrap the bill, as the  farmers fear the privatisation of electricity and do not trust the respective state governments to pay subsidies in a timely manner. 
• Compensation for loss of life during the 2020-2021 agitation: A monetary compensation is also demanded for the families of the farmers who died during the agitation of 2020-2021, as well as an employment for one family member.
• MGNREGA: An employment to be increased from 100 days to 200 days per year,  with an increase of daily wage to Rs 700. 
• National Commission for Spices: A demand for the formation of a commission specifically for different spices.
• Protection of rights of indigenous people: Protection to the land, forests and water resources which belong  to the tribal communities.
• Seed quality: A demand to improve the seed quality by penalising companies producing fake seeds, pesticides and fertilisers.

What is the strategy behind the farmers protest?

• This time a mobilisation of around 25,000 farmers and 5,000 tractors is likely to be a part of the march. However, it is about the initial stage and the numbers may vary as the protest goes further.
• The government has engaged with the farmers as three Union ministers, Piyush Goyal, Nityanand Rai, and Arjun Munda, went to Chandigarh on Thursday last week, and held  talks with the farmer leaders so as to deter them from marching to Delhi.
• SKM (non-political), has said the talks with the Centre government would be continued, however the Delhi Chalo March will not be put off.
• Khaps and the jat community organisations, have not yet joined the protests. 
• Two Khaps, however, did appeal to the farmers to not lay siege to Delhi and instead should hold  talks with the government instead. 
• One of the Khap leaders in Sonepat spoke about the massive losses and inconvenience which was faced by the people at the border districts of Haryana during the protests which were held earlier, which led to ultimately closure of a large number of businesses and industry.
• The factors mentioned above indicate that the farmer protests this time may be lukewarm and the protests  may not be as protracted as the last time due to the low participation, with the harvest season coming up in months as well as the preparation by the authorities given the last last experience from the protests. 

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