The specter of the 2020 farmers’ agitation looms large over Punjab’s political landscape as the State gears up for the Lok Sabha elections, slated to be held on June 1. Echoing the past, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is once again finding itself confronted with a familiar challenge — farmers mobilizing to restrict the entry of BJP leaders into villages – a tactic previously employed during the protests against the Centre’s contentious farm laws.
Posters and banners, calling for prohibiting entry of BJP leaders in villages to seek votes, are coming up in several villages in Sangrur, Bathinda, Muktsar and other areas in solidarity with the ongoing protests at Shambhu and Khanauri borders, where farmers have been demonstrating since February 13. Announcements are also being made from village Gurudwaras regarding the same.
If that was not all, the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ekta-Ugrahan) — Punjab’s biggest farm union — has also announced a massive protest in Chandigarh, slated to commence from April 8.
While the BJP’s state leadership has already dismissed the ongoing ‘Delhi Chalo’ farmers’ agitation as political maneuvering, the farmers’ decision to prohibit BJP leaders from canvassing in villages could significantly impact the saffron party’s prospects in the lead-up to the Lok Sabha elections. This challenge is particularly pertinent as the BJP prepares to contest all 13 seats independently in the upcoming June 1 polls.
In Sangrur’s Namol village, posters have surfaced cautioning BJP leaders against seeking votes in the area. These posters, attributed to the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Azad), prominently feature images of Shubhkaran Singh, a 19-year-old farmer who tragically lost his life on February 21 during clashes at the Khanauri border. The posters express outrage at Shubhkaran’s demise, allegedly due to bullet injuries sustained during firing by Haryana Police.
Similarly, Bharu village in Gidderbaha assembly constituency has witnessed the emergence of banners denouncing BJP, which have been affixed to walls for the past four days. While Mansa villages have not yet displayed such posters or banners, farmers are vocally opposing BJP, vowing to block leaders from entering their villages.
In Bathinda, tensions flared during a BJP booth mahotsav on March 24, prompting the cancellation of a scheduled address by state president Sunil Jakhar. The incident unfolded amidst farmer protests, underscoring the deep-seated discontent prevailing among agricultural communities. Although Jakhar's office refuted rumours of his intended visit to Bathinda, the upheaval during the event underscored the volatile nature of the political landscape, particularly in regions where farmer grievances run high.
As per information available, announcements are echoing from the Gurudwara of Namol village signaling continuous protests by farmers at Khanauri and Shambhu borders of Punjab. It highlighted how the farmers, advocating for their rights and demands, have been subjected to direct firing and lathi-charges by the BJP; while calling out for restricting entry of leader from the saffron party.
Beyond individual villages, the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) has also announced its plans to mobilize opposition against BJP on a national level. SKM’s national coordination committee’s member Dr Darshan Pal outlined strategies encompassing questioning, black flag demonstrations, and grassroots mobilization.
Reflecting on BJP’s electoral strategy in Punjab, a farmer leader highlighted rural voters’ disillusionment stemming from unfulfilled promises made on December 9, 2021, while emphasizing the farmers’ determination to hold BJP accountable throughout the campaign trail.
Amidst the brewing discontent, the BJP faces a formidable challenge in winning over rural voters, with memories of past confrontations still fresh in the minds of Punjab’s farming community. As the election campaign gathers momentum, farmer unions anticipate the emergence of more dissenting voices in villages across Punjab.
With the threat of further posters and protests looming, BJP faces an uphill battle in winning over rural voters, amidst a landscape marked by growing discontent and steadfast opposition while grappling with the legacy of past grievances.
Farmers protest from Apr 8
The BKU (Ugrahan), under the leadership of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha, has announced a protest in Chandigarh against the Punjab Government on April 8. BKU (Ugrahan) state president Joginder Singh Ugrahan on Monday said that the Punjab Government has initiated a corporate takeover of agricultural markets.
He highlighted the allocation of 7,25,000 tons of wheat to corporate entities in the first phase alone, alongside the imminent merger of 26 markets and sub-yards into nearby markets after nine years of establishment.
This decision by the Punjab Government has stirred significant controversy, with accusations of deep loyalty towards corporate entities. The move has faced staunch opposition, with the Samyukta Kisan Morcha planning a rally in Chandigarh on April 8 to protest against this decision.
