After almost two years of the massive farmer protest, farmers are once again on the road to the capital. Farmers mainly from Punjab, Haryana, Western Uttar Pradesh including more than 200 unions, Kisan Mazdoor morcha and the Samyukta Kisan morcha together marched to enter Delhi.
Farmers have once again gathered with the aim to remind the promises made by the government back in 2021, when farm laws were revoked. Their demands encompass the enactment of legislation ensuring a minimum support price (MSP) for all crops, disengagement from the World Trade Organization (WTO), debt relief for farmers, and justice for the perpetrators of the Lakhimpur Kheri tragedy. The focal point remains the MSP, pivotal in enabling farmers to vend their produce at a predetermined minimum price in government-regulated wholesale markets, thus augmenting their income and fostering improved livelihoods.
Extreme security measures by the government were seen to prevent the farmers from entering Delhi by sealing Delhi’s border , deploying multi- layered barricades, concrete blocks, iron nails and suspending internet services in various districts.
Farmers from Punjab commenced the ‘Delhi Chalo’ March on 13th February, which was abruptly interrupted by the Haryana police which used various measures such as tear gas, lathicharged and even rubber bullets in the protesters, and afew farmers were detained as well near the Shambhu border.
The directions for the impending Gramin Bharat Bandh, scheduled for February 16, have been announced by central trade unions and the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM).
The lingering inquiry pertains to the government’s capacity to honor commitments made to farmers and address the longstanding agrarian crisis and rural distress endured for decades. The imperative lies in the nation’s ability to ensure farmers receive their fundamental rights. This necessitates robust policies and effective implementation mechanisms to alleviate the plight of rural communities. It is incumbent upon the authorities to earnestly engage in proactive measures aimed at revitalizing the agricultural sector and safeguarding the livelihoods of farmers. Such concerted efforts are essential to fostering sustainable growth and social equity, thereby fortifying the agricultural backbone of the nation.