Farmers Movement Archive

After a year, farmers keen to return home

A year after the protests against the three farm laws began, farmers thronged the three protest sites surrounding Delhi determined to flaunt their “historic victory” in convin- cing the Government to accede to their demand. “It is a monumental achievement that after 12 months, the farmers have forced this obstinate Prime Minister to blink, and to bend down. Few other struggles can claim such a victory,” said All India Kisan Sabha general secretary Hannan Mollah. Many farmers and leaders from Punjab, especially those without political affiliations outside the State, seem hopeful that the victory means they can go home. “We will now wait to see that Parliament actually repeals the laws and that the committee [mentioned by the PM] has a strong farmers’ voice,” said Jagmohan Singh, general secretary of the Dhakaunda faction of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU). He indicated that the composition, tenure and mandate of the committee would have to be scrutinised, but hoped that “if the conditions are right, then we can go back”. “The MSP must be recognised as the right of all farmers, not just a few. We will continue to fight until all farmers get their due,” said Rakesh Tikait, who heads a western Uttar Pradesh faction of the BKU.

The Hindu

2021-11-27

NEW DELHI