India is once again witnessing a massive protest by the farmers as around 200 farmer unions announced ‘Delhi Chalo’ (Let’s go to Delhi) march to press their demands including enactment of law on minimum support price (MSP) on crops and loan waiver.
The march started on Tuesday (13 February) from Punjab, but the farmers were stopped at the Shambhu border between Punjab and Haryana.
In anticipation of the march, security arrangements in Haryana, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh were made with police deploying heavy barricades, nails, water cannons and large containers to prevent the farmers from reaching the national capital.
There have been several rounds of talks between the government delegation of three federal ministers and the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (non-political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (farmers' unions leading the protest), but all have remained inconclusive.
As the deadlock continues, a political expert spoke to Sputnik India about the impact of the farmers' agitation on the 2024 Lok Sabha polls and the government's possible strategy to resolve the issue.
India, drone
© AP Photo / Rajesh Kumar Singh
Desperate Attempt of Congress
The march began just before the Lok Sabha elections and the opposition parties are leaving no chance to use it against the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
The country's main opposition party, Congress, has come out in support of the farmers as its members target the government over the issue.
Speaking to Sputnik India, political analyst Vinod Kumar Shukla said it was a failed attempt by the Congress to gain some votes in the Lok Sabha elections due in March-April.
"Only 2-5 per cent of farmers are participating in the protest. It can't be called a nationwide protest because only farmers' unions from Punjab are leading it, while no other farmers' union from any other part of the country has openly come out in support," Shukla explained.
He insisted that this was a politically motivated protest and that the Congress was making a "failed attempt" to corner the BJP on the issue.
"One has to understand that any law can be enacted only when the parliament is functional and now it will be functional only after the elections. So, there is hardly any possibility of bringing a law on MSP," he said, explaining that the farmers' demand for a law on MSP was not reasonable.
He further said that the government has reiterated its intention to resolve the issue through talks, but the farmers are reluctant to reach Delhi, which is against the farmers themselves as the general public is suffering due to road blockades and restricted movement due to security arrangements.
a rice field
© AP Photo / Dar Yasin
Government is Buying Time
Commenting on the government's strategy, the political analyst said that the government has maintained its stance that it is ready to talk to the farmers and find a solution that shows its positive intentions.
"Apart from this, the government is playing for time because it knows that once the elections are announced, it will not be in a position to promise anything because the model code of conduct will be in place. Any decision on the farmers' demands can only be taken after the general elections," he clarified.
He further said that like last time, it is unlikely that the government will give in to all the demands of the farmers, rather it will keep its condition in front of the farmers.
Meanwhile, as the impasse continues despite several rounds of talks between a three-member government delegation and farmers' leaders, another round of talks is scheduled for tonight.
Sarwan Singh Pandher, general secretary of the Punjab Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee, said the farmers wanted to resolve all issues peacefully.
"Even in this position, we think that we will not leave the path of talks. If the federal government comes up with a solution, we are ready. We don't want any kind of conflict. We want to solve all problems through dialogue," he said.