New Delhi: Farmers in Haryana and Punjab have announced a tractor march on Republic Day, as they continue to demand a legal guarantee for the Minimum Support Price (MSP) and the rollback of certain agricultural and electricity policies.
The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) has warned of a larger-scale nationwide movement than the 2020–21 protests if their demands remain unmet. At a meeting of its national coordination committee, the SKM decided to escalate its struggle for pending demands. These include the repeal of the National Framework for Agricultural Marketing (NPFAM), debt relief for farmers, and MSP legislation.
Tractor marches in various districts
At the Khanauri border, farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal’s hunger strike entered its 62nd day. While his health has improved slightly with medical intervention, he remains determined to continue until the demands are addressed.
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Farmers’ organisations, including SKM, Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM), and SKM (Non-Political), have planned tractor marches in various districts to highlight their grievances. In Haryana’s Jind district, a rally led by the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) will feature hundreds of tractors from 21 villages under the Naugama Khap, with participants driving from Ram Rai village to Gulkani. A 105-foot national flag and a farmers’ flag will be hoisted at a martyrs’ memorial.
In Rohtak, the Kisan Mazdoor Sangathan has announced a march involving 400 tractors covering key city landmarks, while in Punjab, women activists in Kishangarh and other villages are preparing decorated tractors for parades. The rallies will culminate outside the homes of BJP leaders, shopping malls, and grain silos, aiming to draw attention to the farmers’ demands.
‘Govts are distracting people with divisive tactics’
Kisan Sabha state vice president Phool Singh Sheokand accused the BJP-led government of enacting policies detrimental to rural communities. He cited unemployment, inflation, corruption, and budget cuts in welfare schemes as contributing to the worsening rural crisis. Referring to National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data, Sheokand highlighted the increasing rate of farmer suicides, calling them the “most vulnerable” victims of systemic neglect.
“Instead of addressing these issues, the govts are distracting people with divisive tactics, while policies favor large capitalists. The black farm laws, repealed after a 13 month struggle, are being reintroduced in other forms. Meanwhile, labour laws have been diluted, worsening the plight of the working class,” a TOI report quoted him as saying.
