December 2, 2024: In a dramatic escalation of their ongoing protest, farmers from Punjab breached police barricades and began marching toward Delhi on Monday, intensifying their demand for a legal guarantee on the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for crops. This move follows months of growing discontent among the farming community, which has expressed frustration over the government's stance on agricultural policies and the lack of clarity regarding MSP assurances.
The protest, led by farmers’ unions from Punjab, marks a critical turning point in the ongoing agitation. Over recent months, rural India has seen mounting unrest, particularly as farmers grapple with rising input costs, declining crop prices, and the uncertainty surrounding MSP. Despite these growing pressures, the government has yet to offer definitive solutions, leading to widespread dissatisfaction.
Hours before the march intensified, the Supreme Court intervened, urging farmer leaders, including prominent figure Jagjit Singh Dallewal, to ensure that the protest did not obstruct highways or cause significant disruption to public life. In its intervention, the Court recognized the farmers' right to protest but stressed the importance of maintaining public order. “We recognize the farmers’ grievances, but it is equally important to ensure that highways remain unobstructed for public use,” the Court said, urging peaceful protests that would not cause unnecessary inconvenience to commuters.
The breach of barricades and subsequent march signals the start of what is expected to be a larger, coordinated movement. In the coming days, other farmer organizations, including the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) and Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), are planning their own marches toward Delhi, beginning December 6. These protests, while originating in Punjab, are likely to see farmers from neighboring Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and other states join in solidarity, swelling the ranks of demonstrators headed to the capital.
The central demand of the protesters is a legal guarantee for MSP on all crops. Farmers argue that without this assurance, they face significant financial insecurity, as market prices often fall below the cost of production. The farmers' list of demands also includes the implementation of benefits under new agricultural laws, a farm loan waiver, pensions for both farmers and agricultural laborers, no hike in electricity tariffs, and the withdrawal of police cases filed against protesters during previous agitations.
The protesters are also seeking justice for the victims of the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence, which resulted in the deaths of several farmers during clashes with police. They are demanding accountability for those responsible for the violence and legal action against the accused. Additionally, the farmers are calling for the reinstatement of the Land Acquisition Act, 2013, and compensation for the families of farmers who lost their lives during the 2020-21 farm protests.