Farmers Protest 2.0: How Different is It from the 2020–21 Edition?

With Farmers Protest 2.0 in action, hundreds of farmers from Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh participated in a protest demanding clarity on the minimum support price for crops, accusing the government of breaking its promise. Meanwhile, this took place after inconclusive talks with the Union Minister on Monday.

While most of those who participated were from Punjab, others from other states like Haryana and Uttar Pradesh were also present. Estimates put the numbers at around 250.

K.V. Biju, a senior farmer’s leader, talked about the protest and said, The ministers did not give us any assurance on MSP. The talks collapsed. We will continue our protests.

Additionally, their other demands include freedom from debt, hiked import duties on all agricultural products, cancellation of all free trade agreements and other deals with the World Trade Organization, suspending the privatisation of electricity boards, a ban on foreign direct investment and corporatization in agriculture, and a pension for farmers.

Differences between Farmers Protest 2.0 and Farmers Protest 2020

• Similarly, in 2020, the farmers protested against three farm laws, which the Indian government cancelled within a year. As of 2024, the farmers have revived the protest to demand clarity regarding the minimum support price for crops.
• Meanwhile, the 2020 protest was led by the Bhartiya Kisan Union and Samyukt Kisan Morcha. On the contrary, the Farmers Protest 2.0 is led by different unions owing to the change of rules in the farmers’ union. Moreover, the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (2.0) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha announced the 2024 Farmer Protest 2.0.

We made every effort the talks with the ministers that some decision could come in our favour, but we didn’t feel any positive sign from their side in the meeting. If we had been given something, then why would we protest? We will start our Delhi Chalo march today, concluded SKM-NP leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal in an interview on Monday morning.

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