Ties That Bind

The current struggle of Punjab's farmers is purely economic, but they are internally divided by decades' old factional politics

- SURESH K. PANDEY

SINCE the beginning of the farmers' movement in India in 2019, the farmers of Punjab have become a special focus of analysis for writers and social scientists as well as the media. During the 2019-2020 farmers' movement the major issue that emerged was how could this movement sustain for such a long time. The second significance of this movement was that it concluded with success to the extent that the controversial farm laws were repealed through the Parliament's decision duly signed by the President of India. However, the Government of India did not notify the repeal of laws in the government gazette, forcing the farmers to launch another struggle these days. It seems that the Union government was determined to corporatise the farm sector and in a way misled the farmers, who believed in the government's decision. The present phase of farmers' struggle is a reaction to the government's failure to honour its promise to them.