New Delhi: After accepting a written assurance from the central government, farmers finally called off their protest on Thursday against the three reform laws in force since November 26, 2020. The decision comes barely a few months in advance. Assembly elections in five states.
In these 12 months, the protest of the farmers had become a big issue not only for the political parties but also for the common man. It was anticipated that the movement would have an impact on the assembly elections to be held in the states of Uttar Pradesh (UP). Punjab, Uttarakhand, Goa and Manipur. Therefore, withdrawing the protest will also affect the outcome of the poll-bound states, especially UP and Punjab, from where most of the protesters come.
The farmers of Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh raised the flag of rebellion against Narendra Modi The government at the Center to legislate three agricultural reform laws last year. They were camping at the three Delhi borders of Singhu, Tikri and Ghazipur.
Impact outside Delhi’s borders
The protests and their impact were not limited to protest sites. But they adversely affected commuters to and from Delhi as the roads were blocked due to tents and other logistics put up by the farmers.
In addition, the peasant protest took a political turn and spread beyond the three borders. Protests turned violent on Republic Day, in which several policemen were injured and at least one farmer died.
On several occasions, farmers showed black flags to ministers and senior leaders of the ruling BJP in Haryana and UP and blocked roads.
He had also campaigned against the BJP in the West Bengal Assembly elections earlier this year. He had announced that he would campaign more vocally against the ruling party in the upcoming UP and Punjab elections. He had said that if his demands were not met, the agitation would continue till the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
political balance is disturbed
The peasants’ movement also changed the balance of political structures. Sensing the mood of the farmers, especially in Punjab, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) opposed the agrarian laws and broke its alliance with the BJP-led NDA. The SAD was the oldest alliance partner of the BJP and had fought all Punjab and Lok Sabha elections in alliance for more than two decades.
Later the political equations changed further. Amarinder Singh He was replaced with Charanjit Singh Channi as the Chief Minister of Punjab in September. He formed a new political party called Punjab Lok Congress and is all set to form an alliance with the BJP and the SAD faction SAD (United) under the leadership of Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa for the Punjab elections.
The opposition, notably the Congress, Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party (SP), Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), SAD and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), have taken on the BJP over the issue. Tried to surround Farmers’ protest.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi While his sister and party general secretary in charge of UP, he led from the front and raised the issue of farmers. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra An attempt was made to take political advantage of four farmers who were allegedly crushed by a speeding vehicle by the son of Union Minister of State for Home Ajay Mishra’s son Ashish Mishra in Lakhimpur Kheri on October 3.
The politics of western UP had also changed due to the protest of the farmers. was going against a clear mood Yogi Adityanath Government. State ministers and ruling party leaders were finding it difficult to visit this part of the state due to farmers’ protests and threats.
Parliament’s productivity affected
Even the productivity of Parliament was badly affected due to the farmers’ movement. The last monsoon session was virtually washed away in the noise of protests by the Congress-led opposition over agricultural laws and the Pegasus spyware issue.
This may also have an impact on the current winter session.
However, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on November 19, the day of Guru Nanak Jayanti, that the government would cancel three agricultural laws In the winter session that began on November 29, he appealed to the farmers to return to their homes.
But the farmers refused to withdraw their protest, saying they would wait for the laws to be repealed. Apart from this, he added other demands which include giving legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price (MSP), withdrawal of criminal cases against the protesters during a period of one year and compensation to the families of 700 farmers who died during this period. Were. against.
Following a written assurance from the government, the farmers have decided to call off their agitation after taking out a “Victory March” on December 11.
The development in Punjab and especially in western UP will help the BJP during the upcoming elections. On the other hand, it has robbed the opposition, especially the Congressmen, of a bigger issue with which they were trying to defeat the BJP so far.
Reacting to the decision of the farmers, Rahul Gandhi tweeted and said, ‘Our country is great. Here we have Satyagrahi farmers! In this victory of truth, we also remember the martyr farmers. #Farmers’ protest #Truth’s victory”
In these 12 months, the protest of the farmers had become a big issue not only for the political parties but also for the common man. It was anticipated that the movement would have an impact on the assembly elections to be held in the states of Uttar Pradesh (UP). Punjab, Uttarakhand, Goa and Manipur. Therefore, withdrawing the protest will also affect the outcome of the poll-bound states, especially UP and Punjab, from where most of the protesters come.
The farmers of Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh raised the flag of rebellion against Narendra Modi The government at the Center to legislate three agricultural reform laws last year. They were camping at the three Delhi borders of Singhu, Tikri and Ghazipur.
Impact outside Delhi’s borders
The protests and their impact were not limited to protest sites. But they adversely affected commuters to and from Delhi as the roads were blocked due to tents and other logistics put up by the farmers.
In addition, the peasant protest took a political turn and spread beyond the three borders. Protests turned violent on Republic Day, in which several policemen were injured and at least one farmer died.
On several occasions, farmers showed black flags to ministers and senior leaders of the ruling BJP in Haryana and UP and blocked roads.
He had also campaigned against the BJP in the West Bengal Assembly elections earlier this year. He had announced that he would campaign more vocally against the ruling party in the upcoming UP and Punjab elections. He had said that if his demands were not met, the agitation would continue till the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
political balance is disturbed
The peasants’ movement also changed the balance of political structures. Sensing the mood of the farmers, especially in Punjab, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) opposed the agrarian laws and broke its alliance with the BJP-led NDA. The SAD was the oldest alliance partner of the BJP and had fought all Punjab and Lok Sabha elections in alliance for more than two decades.
Later the political equations changed further. Amarinder Singh He was replaced with Charanjit Singh Channi as the Chief Minister of Punjab in September. He formed a new political party called Punjab Lok Congress and is all set to form an alliance with the BJP and the SAD faction SAD (United) under the leadership of Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa for the Punjab elections.
The opposition, notably the Congress, Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party (SP), Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), SAD and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), have taken on the BJP over the issue. Tried to surround Farmers’ protest.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi While his sister and party general secretary in charge of UP, he led from the front and raised the issue of farmers. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra An attempt was made to take political advantage of four farmers who were allegedly crushed by a speeding vehicle by the son of Union Minister of State for Home Ajay Mishra’s son Ashish Mishra in Lakhimpur Kheri on October 3.
The politics of western UP had also changed due to the protest of the farmers. was going against a clear mood Yogi Adityanath Government. State ministers and ruling party leaders were finding it difficult to visit this part of the state due to farmers’ protests and threats.
Parliament’s productivity affected
Even the productivity of Parliament was badly affected due to the farmers’ movement. The last monsoon session was virtually washed away in the noise of protests by the Congress-led opposition over agricultural laws and the Pegasus spyware issue.
This may also have an impact on the current winter session.
However, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on November 19, the day of Guru Nanak Jayanti, that the government would cancel three agricultural laws In the winter session that began on November 29, he appealed to the farmers to return to their homes.
But the farmers refused to withdraw their protest, saying they would wait for the laws to be repealed. Apart from this, he added other demands which include giving legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price (MSP), withdrawal of criminal cases against the protesters during a period of one year and compensation to the families of 700 farmers who died during this period. Were. against.
Following a written assurance from the government, the farmers have decided to call off their agitation after taking out a “Victory March” on December 11.
The development in Punjab and especially in western UP will help the BJP during the upcoming elections. On the other hand, it has robbed the opposition, especially the Congressmen, of a bigger issue with which they were trying to defeat the BJP so far.
Reacting to the decision of the farmers, Rahul Gandhi tweeted and said, ‘Our country is great. Here we have Satyagrahi farmers! In this victory of truth, we also remember the martyr farmers. #Farmers’ protest #Truth’s victory”
Our country is great, here is a satyagrahi farmer!
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) 1639047062000
The Congress may be projecting this development as its victory and the support of farmers as a win, but it is the BJP that is breathing a sigh of relief.
,