Not another Singhu but still a force to reckon with

Stir didn't get full support of other unions, but Dallewal's fast 'forced' Centre to invite farmers for fresh round of talks

- Gurpreet Singh Nibber

CHANDIGARH: The farmers' protest at the Shambhu and Khanauri borders may have been a thorn in the flesh for the Centre, Haryana and Punjab governments over the last one year, but it fails to measure up when compared to the 13-month long agitation at the National Capital's Singhu border against the three farm laws in 2020-21.

Jagjit Singh Dallewal-led Bharatiya Kisan Union (Sidhupur) and Sarwan Singh Pandher-led Kisan Mazdoor Sangarh Committee (KMSC), under the banner of Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (non-political), have been camping at the Shambhu and Khanauri borders since February 13 last year, after security forces did not allow them to march to Delhi to press for their demands.

Besides a legal guarantee to minimum support price (MSP) on crops, farmers are demanding a debt waiver, pension for farmers and farm labourers, no hike in electricity tariff, withdrawal of police cases and "justice" for the victims of the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence.

While the Singhu stir had seen the entire farming community, along with religious and social organisations, put up a united front against the Narendra Modi-led central government's decision to bring three farm laws, the current agitation lacks unity and has been marred by one-upmanship by leaders spearheading the agitation.