The call of “Delhi Chalo” once again echoes across fields and villages, stirring the hearts of Indian farmers. This rallying cry, translating to “March to Delhi,” ignites a familiar fire of resilience and demands to be heard. But what compels these weathered hands, hardened by soil and sun, to embark on this arduous journey?
Their demands are far from simple.
With the controversial farm laws, the increasing input prices, and the fight for a fair MSP, a simmering discontent has been brewed. Although the promise of better access to markets has not been realized, many farmers feel exploited by corporations and abandoned by the government.
Their journey is not just about economic issues; it is the struggle for dignity and self-worth. They are the nation’s backbone, who feed millions and yet cannot feed their own families. They demand the acknowledgment of their unwavering efforts and a say in the decisions that touch their well-being and pocket.
The “Delhi Chalo” movement is not only about farmers; it is a symbol of the fight against injustice. It spotlights the condition of millions in rural areas of India, the dreams and goals of which are generally discounted by urban stories. It is a call for camaraderie, which requires us to listen to the hollowness and provide a solution to those who feed our nation.
Why and How Are the Farmers Protesting?
The farmers protested the three new enactments that were revoked one year later after their protests on the borders of Delhi in 2021.
Delhi Chalo was announced in 2023 demanding the provision of a legal guarantee to the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for all crops, the implementation of the Swaminathan Commission’s formula, full debt waiver for farmers, pension for farmers and laborers, withdrawal of cases against farmers during the 2020-21 protests.
Various unions drive the farmers’ protest 2.0 because the new leaders have risen in the farmers’ unions over the last few years.
SKM (Non-Political) and KMK have both announced Delhi Chalo 2.0.
The Bhartiya Kisan Union, and Samyukt Kisan Morcha which were at the forefront of the 2020 farmers’ protests are being marred by several factionalism.
The two big leaders of the farmer protests of 2020 were Rakesh Tikait and Gurnam Singh Charuni. Yet, they are nowhere to be found even after the farmers go to the streets four years earlier. The face of SKM (non-political) which is led by Jagjit Singh Dallewal and that of Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) with Sarwan Singh Pandher as the general secretary is in the forefront now.
In 2020, the farmers were free to go– to the national capital but this time the authorities have resorted to preventive measures in advance. Barbed wire, cement barricade, nails on roads — everything has been placed to block all roads to Delhi. Delhi has imposed Section 144. The borders of Haryana with Punjab were sealed by the Haryana government.
The government started the process of dialogue before the Farmer’s Delhi Chalo Yatra this time. The first time that the farmer leaders and the Union ministers met was on February 8. The second meeting happened on February 12th.
The government reportedly bowed to this demand to withdraw all cases against farmers registered during the 2020-21 agitation against the now-repealed farm laws but there was no legal assurance to MSP.
Conclusion
This movement reminds us that the path to progress cannot leave its most crucial contributors behind. We must engage in meaningful dialogue, and address their concerns with empathy and urgency. Solutions require not just policies but a shift in perspective, an acknowledgment of the sacrifices made by those who till the land that sustains us all.
The “Delhi Chalo” movement may face hurdles, but the spirit of defiance burns bright. These farmers are not seeking handouts but demanding their rightful place as integral partners in India’s growth story. Their voices deserve to be heard, and their concerns addressed. Let us stand with them in solidarity, not just for their sake, but for the future of a nation built on the foundation of their sweat and toil.
