Year after stir, farm unions back in protest mode
CHANDIGARH: A year after farmers of Punjab steered a spirited agitation on Delhi borders against the Centre’s now repealed farm laws, they are back in protest mode, ironically against the Bhagwant Mann-led Aam Aadmi Party government in Punjab.
The dynamics of farmer politics has changed to such an extent that the AAP, which supported the farmers’ agitation against the Centre, now finds itself at the receiving end. The farmers accuse the AAP government of not keeping its word on land and crop compensation besides cancellation of cases for paddy stubble burning and taking part in the agitation against the Centre.
After a year-long struggle steered by the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), comprising 33 farm organisations from Punjab, Prime Minister Narendra Modi withdrew the three controversial farm laws on November 19, 2021, and the protesters vacated the Delhi border sites of Singhu and Tikri on December 11.
Difference of opinion
This year, the farmer unions are no longer a united front with a common cause. The leader of each outfit seems to be engaged in a game of one-upmanship and is ploughing a lonely furrow. The farm bodies have not even been able to decide on the agenda and location of protests. The SKM is now a splintered unit with five sub-groups led by Joginder Singh Ugrahan, Balbir Singh Rajewal, Jagjit Singh Dallewal, Jagmohan Singh (Dakaunda) and Gurnam Singh Chaduni.
Jagmohan Singh, the general secretary of the BKU (Dakaunda), a Left-oriented body with its base in Patiala, Sangrur, south-west Punjab and parts of Majha, admits that “even if there is a small defection in a group, it becomes difficult to bring back the constituents as a combined force. We are making efforts to unite for a common cause,” he said.
Politics led to trust deficit
Farm unions distanced themselves from the Rajewal-led BKU faction since he floated his political party, the Sanyukt Samaj Morcha (SSM), and unsuccessfully contested the assembly elections. Many farm leaders, particularly Ugrahan, are of the opinion that political aspirations led to a trust deficit among members. Rajewal has been urged to dismantle the SSM, but he has refused.
Rajewal, however, said he will show his strength during marches across the state from December 2 and a permanent dharna on the Chandigarh border from December 30.
BKU (Sidhupur) chief Dallewal, who earlier backed Rajewal, said the Left-oriented farm bodies are working on the agenda of disruption. The body he leads has a sway in south Malwa. Other farmer bodies oppose Dallewal, accusing him of being a right-wing leader working against the state government.
The protest by the Dallewal faction at Rajpura, Mansa, Faridkot, Mukerian and Amritsar entered its ninth day and he is on fast for the past six days. He has given a long list of 41 demands, including revocation of red entries in farmers’ land records for burning paddy stubble, release of compensation for loss to crops, jobs for the kin of farmers who died during the protest and cancellation of criminal cases against the farmers who participated in the protests.
On the contrary, the Ugrahanled BKU (Ekta-Ugrahan) faction keeps a distance from other farm bodies and even meets the chief minister separately to raise its demands. “We fight for the farmers’ cause and depend on our support base, but some farm bodies are working in isolation,” said BKU (Ekta-Ugrahan) general secretary Sukhdev Singh Kokri Kalan, raising doubts over the timing and style of the protest by the BKU (Sidhupur) faction.
Krantikari Kisan Union chief Darshan Pal, who played a key role as part of the SKM during the protest at Delhi borders, suggested farm unions to put up a united face and desist from selfcompetition.
Party of peasants pushed to sidelines
The space for all farm bodies has been rendered open after the Shiromani Akali Dal, once considered the repository of the farmers’ rights, has been pushed to sidelines after two defeats in the state elections in 2017 and 2022. The party earned criticism from the larger section of state’s peasantry as they supported the farm laws as beneficial to the farmers and later took a U-turn siding with the farmers, but then it was too late to earn any brownie point. SAD leaders still stand for farmers’ rights but it is tough to strike a chord with peasants as their representative party.
“Farm bodies have the right to take up the voice of farmers. Somehow, they are unable to put their act together. The SAD has always protected farmers’ rights and will continue to do that,” said SAD leader Maheshinder Singh Grewal.
Thaw in ties will take time
State government officials argue that leaders of farm bodies are resorting to arm-twisting tactics. They suggest that farm bodies raising impractical demands should be dealt with a stern hand.
Chief minister Mann met the farm leaders a few times after he assumed charge in March, but a thaw between the state government and farm organisations is not close to near.
“The Bhagwant Mann government has taken several profarmers steps.
Farm bodies should avoid blockades and instead keep the dialogue open. We seek better cooperation from the farmer organisations,” said AAP Punjab unit chief spokesperson Malwinder Singh Kang.
Arms licence controversy Citing an example, a senior state government official said the farm bodies act unreasonably, as a day after assurance from the chief minister, activists of BKU (Ekta-Ughrahan) sat on a dharna on October 9 and lifted it on October 29 only after a written assurance from the government. Apart from other demands, the farm body demanded 150 arm licences for personal protection. The government is not keen to issue them the licences.
“They (farm leaders) are indulging in a game of one-upmanship and racing to prove their individual strengths. The trend is suicidal for all of them. They should desist because the cause of peasantry is at stake,” said Jagrup Singh Sekhon, a former head of the political science department, Guru Nanak Dev University.
“The leaders should work on a common agenda. Moreover, due to protests and road blockades, the common man is put to inconvenience. Lack of connect with the public would not help the farmers’ cause,” he added.