After talks with the Haryana government remained inconclusive, several farmer unions from Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, and Uttar Pradesh, including those associated with Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), called for indefinite blockade of the national highway yesterday. The protestors also demand release of farmer leaders arrested on June 6 from Shahabad when they tried to block the national highway. The Kurukshetra police had on June 6 used water cannon and cane-charged farmers to clear the blockade.
How the protest built up
As per a call given on June 2, the BKU Charuni blocked the national highway on June 6. They had held two rounds of talks with the district administration but there was no headway. The administration handed over orders of the Punjab and Haryana High Court to farmers, ordering the government to vacate the highway in public interest as it is the lifeline of the country and region that connects important and strategic states.
Even after receiving the court orders, the farmers did not vacate the NH-44 blockade, following which, the police used force to vacate the highways and arrested several farmer leaders.
Later a mahapanchayat held at Pipli on Monday, which was attended by various khaps, decided to block the highway. BKU leader Rakesh Tikait and wrestler Bajrang Punia, one of those demanding action against outgoing Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, also attended the mahapanchayat.
Farmers say the local administration had assured them of a meeting with Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar to discuss their demands. but it did not materialise as the chief minister left Karnal.
What the farmers demand
The farmers are demanding that the state government procure sunflower seeds at an MSP of Rs 6,400 per quintal. The prices of sunflower seeds have come down recently, and they are being sold at nearly Rs 4,000 in the open market. Haryana is the second-biggest grower of sunflower, after Karnataka, accounting for 10% of sunflower production in India. The state government, under the Bhavantar Bharpai Yojana — price difference payment scheme — is giving Rs 1,000 per quintal as interim support for sunflower crop which is sold below MSP. The government had on Saturday released Rs 29.13 crore as interim compensation to 8,528 farmers for sunflowers grown on 36,414 acres.
Are the farmers out for a long blockade?
For now, the protest is centered on the issue of sunflower MSP, but many farmer leaders have also raised the demand for a law for guaranteed MSP. The farmers had raised the demand for this law during the protests against farm laws too. They say the government had promised to constitute a committee to consider such a law. It is quite possible that the agitation turns into a larger protest over the MSP issue. The agitation is spearheaded by leaders of the farm laws protests.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had to apologise to the farmers and take back the farm laws when the long-drawn protest started turning violent. Later, the farmer leaders had actively canvassed against the BJP and in support of opposition parties in Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal elections.
Many think current protests could have a political motive since elections are due later this year in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and several other states. Another long-drawn farmer protest can hit the BJP’s prospects in these states. Haryana will go to the polls next year after the Lok Sabha election. Sunflower farmers in other states, including Punjab, are not yet protesting for the MSP.
Given the demand for a law on MSP which has reverberated among farmers for long and is being voiced now too, there is a possibility that the current agitation does not remain confined to the sunflower MSP but spills over into a larger protest. The government will be more vulnerable to widespread protests this time. With several state elections coming up this year and the Lok Sabha elections next year, the government will not have the space to let the protests draw on and will be under pressure to give in to the farmers’ demands.