The Farmer’s Agitation has been one of the most prolonged protests India has seen in decades.
Since November 2020, farmers from different parts of the country have been protesting against three farm laws.
They have expressed that they are highly apprehensive about the minimum support price system being scrapped, leaving the farmers at the mercy of big corporations.
Several rounds of talks between both parties have resulted in nothing more than a deadlock.
On the other hand, the government has been endorsing the laws as major agricultural reforms. The protests have been all over the country, some even beyond the boundaries of Indian territory.
These protests have not ended, and the issue is far from being resolved. For a long time, their issue has been used by political parties to take sides.
Current Status of the Farmer’s ProtestÂ
Image Credit:- Telegraph India
In the last few weeks, in the capital of New Delhi, there have been widespread protests. There have been thirteen day-long protests at Jantar Mantar in Delhi.
The 13 days “Kisan Sansad” conducted several discussions on issues and matters related to their community.
A few problems discussed were the Electricity Amendment Bill, 2020; Essential Commodities Amendment Act, 2020; and the Commission for Air Quality Management in the National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas Ordinance, 2021.
On every single day of the protest, resolutions were passed to repeal the farm laws. This protest at Jantar Mantar ended on August 9 with an all-women’s mock parliament session, “Mahila Sansad,” where 200 women participated.
In the mock parliament session, the farmers passed a no-confidence motion against the government over its failure to address their demands.
As quoted by PTI), Joginder Singh Ugrahan, president of Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ekta Ugrahan), said, “Today was the last day of our protest at Jantar Mantar. “We have plans to carry out Tiranga rallies across the country on Independence Day”.
Apart from the protest in the capital, there have also been several strikes and marches going on in other parts of the country.
Several demonstrations took place on Wednesday in Ambala against Haryana home and health minister Anil Vij.
During this protest, a youth activist, Aman, was detained by the police. The detention of this youth activist sparked more protests, and on Thursday, several of them protested outside the Parao police station in Ambala.
On Thursday, Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Takait accused the Haryana government of trying to slap false cases against the farmers.
He also mentioned that these false cases would not stop the farmers from protesting and asked the government not to interfere in a peaceful Agitation.
“The ruling dispensation in Haryana is trying to appease its political masters by arresting agitating farmers and slapping false cases against them.
It won’t deter them from holding the protest, and their Agitation against the laws will continue till the legislation is repealed, “Rakesh Takait said.
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has also conducted a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding the Farm Laws. CM Amarinder Singh requested PM Modi to start the process of withdrawing farm laws.
The CM also handed over two separate letters to the Prime Minister, one calling for immediate review and revocation of the two farm bills and the other to include the farmers in a category of people who receive free legal aid.
“The continued agitation was not only impacting economic activities in Punjab but also had the potential to affect the social fabric, especially when political parties and groups take strong positions,” said Amarinder Singh in a statement.
On August 14, the farmers began their hunger strike at various points near the borders of Delhi.
The protesters say that they are ready for their long day of Fast, and they will not stop until the farm laws are repealed. Farmers’ unions have also said that these protests will go on all over the country.Â
“We want to wake up the government. Forty farmer leaders of our United Farmers Front will sit on hunger strike today at all border points between 8 AM and 5 PM.
Twenty-five of them will sit at the Singhu border, ten at the Tikri border, and five at the UP border, “said Harinder Singh Lakhowal, general secretary of Bharatiya Kisan Union, during the protest.
The Farmers have also declared that they will celebrate Independence Day as “Kisan Mazdoor Azaadi Sangram Diwas”. Samyukt Kisan Morcha has given a National call to farmers to mark the day with Tiranga marches.
The farmers have also stressed the fact that they will not enter Delhi. According to the farmer leaders, the nationwide rallies will take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on August 15.
Kavitha Kuruganti of the All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee said that “On August 15, Samyukt Kisan Morcha has given a call for all constituents to mark the day as Kisan Mazdoor Azaadi Sangram Diwas, with tiranga marches to be organised on that day.”
On that day, tractors, motorcycles, cycles, and carts will be taken out in tiranga marches by farmers and workers to their nearest block, tehsil, district headquarters, or to their nearest Kisan morchas or dharnas. The marches and rallies will be taken out with the national flag on the vehicles”. Â
These protests are not going to come to an end. Farmers are substantial in their opinions about the farm laws.
The farmers are planning a “Kisan Maha panchayat” in UP in September. The government has attempted several negotiations but has failed to earn the belief and trust of the farmers on the three farm laws.
The farmers are currently demanding immediate repeal of the laws and are going to continue with their Agitation.
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