The 2020-21 Farmers' Protest (FM) against the now-scrapped three agricultural laws gained headlines when farmers braved the bone-chilling cold, sweltering heat, and record rainfall. 732 farmers died during the more than a year-long agitation. After two years, farmers are on the streets again as the Indian Govt. ignored the fire of discontent that was temporarily doused by the assurances given in December 2021 when the FM 1.0 was called off. The delayed initiative to provide a legal framework for the Minimum Support Price and other demands has resulted in a fresh agitation by farmers. This Dilli Chalo (March to Delhi) call is by Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) (Non-Political) led by Jagjit Singh Dallewal and Kisan Mazdoor Ekta led by Sarwan Singh Pandher. The original SKM, a group of 32 unions that led the earlier FM, has mostly stayed away, though some are now joining the Dilli Chalo call (SDW Vol. 2 Issue 3, Story 7). Big guns like Balbir Singh Rajewal, Rakesh Tikait, Gurnam Singh Chaduni, are staying away from joining the Dilli Chalo march though carrying out their own protests. Bhartiya Kisan Union (Ekta Ugrahan) joined in the protest but from outside. BKY (Ekta Ugrahan) blocked trains in Panjab for four hours on 15 Feb. Then they agitated in front of BJP leaders’ homes for three days. Some farmers from Bihar and Tamil Nadu have reached the protests. When Karnataka farmers were coming by train they were deboarded at Bhopal station, MP, beaten up and detained. Given how farmers from Panjab and Haryana from unions other than SKM NP and KME are joining the protest, the strength of many traditional unions may likely dwindle. Dallewal and Pandher have gained the first mover’s advantage.
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