In an effort to get their demands heard by the Centre, thousands of punjabi farmers are staging protests at two of the state's borders with Haryana. But this time around, there aren't as many farmers participating in the protest as there were during the previous one.
 
A legal guarantee for the Minimum Support Price (MSP) on all crops and a total loan forgiveness for farmers are two of the main demands of the farmers. The farmers are presently encountering strong barricades at the haryana borders as they march towards the nation's capital.
 
Upon visiting Punjab's interior, india Herald discovered that a large number of farmers were cultivating and irrigating their crops. We had conversations with a variety of these farmers in Gurdaspur, Sangrur, Firozpur, Amritsar, and other regions. Owner of about 15 acres of property in Mangal village, Sangrur district, Hardeep Singh, 60, said he supports the farmers' protest but is remaining home to tend to the mustard and wheat crops.
 
"The farmer families stay away from the demonstration since they only have one male member. They just provide the demonstrators moral support. Joining the protest is not practical because working in the fields is equally vital, according to Hardeep Singh.

Hardeep Singh is an advocate of crop diversification and is aware of the high cost of cultivating rice to Punjab's declining water table.

Jasbir Singh, another farmer, made the decision to remain and tend to his farms. However, he also assists in tending to the crops of the farmers who are protesting.

The MSP on additional crops would ensure diversity and will stable their income, Jasbir Singh added. "We have donated ration items to the protesters and look after the fields of those who have joined the protest," Singh stated.
 
IDEOLOGICAL DIFFERENCES KEEP FARMER UNIONS AWAY
Not only does the Kisan Andolan 2.0 lack energy, but it also lacks strength.
 
The only two well-known farmer unions taking part in the demonstration are Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Samiti, led by Sarvan Singh Pandher, and Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) Sidhupur, led by jagjit singh Dallewal.
 
The largest farmer unions in punjab, including BKU Rajewal, led by Balbir Singh Rajewal, and BKU ekta Ugrahan, led by Joginder Singh Ugrahan, have disassociated themselves from the 'Dilli Chalo' march.
 
Pandher and Dallewal were subtly chastised by Joginder Singh Ugrahan on friday for the demonstrations at the borders of Shambhu and Khanauri.

"Two farmer unions have issued the 'Dilli Chalo' appeal. "Only these unions bear responsibility, regardless of the validity of the demands or the justification for the protest," stated Joginder Singh Ugrahan, the chairman of BKU Ugrahan.
 
It's interesting to note that farmers connected to the Rajewal and Ugrahan tribes were also hard at work tending to their mustard and wheat crops.
 
"While we agree with the aspirations of farmers, the demonstration organisers did not engage with other farmer unions. According to farmer Gurudev Singh Barpal of Amritsar, "They should also take responsibility for the farmers who lost their lives during these protests."
 
Mangat Ram, 58, is a member of the Krantikari Kisan Union and comes from the hamlet of Wazidpur in the Firozpur district. He is occupied with overseeing his 12-acre farm and refrained from participating in the demonstration.
 
"Kisan Aandolan 2.0 lacks cohesiveness, whereas Kisan Aandolan 1.0 united all of the previous unions under one umbrella. "Those spearheading the 'Dilli Chalo' march committed an error," asserts Mangat Ram, who participated in a symbolic demonstration before heading back to his crops.
 
According to professor Pramod Kumar, the chairman of punjab University's Institute for Development and Communication (IDC), just one-third of the state's farmers are among the demonstrators who are supporting the 'Dilli Chalo' march through their involvement with two farmer unions.
 
Although jagjit singh Dallewal is a native of Dallewal village in the Faridkot district, Sarvan Singh Pandher is the representative for the Majha region of Punjab.
 
 
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Farmers Protest

G GOWTHAM

25/02/2024 10:20 AM