Now, three years on from the historic farmers’ protest on Delhi’s borders, Punjab farmers say the Centre’s rollback of the three contentious farm laws was a strategic retreat, though agricultural challenges have yet to be resolved.
Rekindling memories of a year-long struggle, a 100 member group said they tried to march from Shambhu border in Punjab to Delhi, though they were faced with tear gas on December 7. Farmers, however, also admit that besides repealing the Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce Act, 2020 the Farmers’ Price Assurance Act, 2020 and the Essential Commodities Amendment Act, 2020; the government has failed to fulfil their further demands, such as legalising the Minimum Support Price (MSP).
Their woes compound from climate change, rural debt and reduced subsidies. “Wiping should have been delayed because that will not only adversely affect farmers but also cost farmers more than Rs 4,000 crore in revenue losses,” said Kulwant Singh, a farmer from Mansa, describing delays in paddy procurement, cuts in essential fertilizers like DAP and urea and non-release of funds for rural infrastructure. I said they contradicted what the Centre says about neutrality: how we suffer from the hardships.”
Weaknesses within the movement have further weakened internal divisions. The 2020-21 protests were led by the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) which has then fractured into factions including SKM (Non Political). The key unions like BKU Ekta Ugrahan and BKU Dakaunda have fractured away, rendering collective action impossible. Unification attempts have failed, with efforts to pool under a six member SKM committee failing.
Disappointed over the disarray, prominent protest leader Balbir Singh Rajewal said. “We need unions to coordinate in order to get these demands.” Shambhu today shows that we need unity,” he said.
Farmers fought hard for these gains, but as agriculture crisis worsens, they look ahead and doubt historic struggle will make lasting change.
