Kisan Kranti March- Redefining Gandhi Jayanti

Power connection for tube-wells in subsidised rates, free electricity, implementation of Swaminathan commission recommendations or unconditional farm loan waiver, what exactly is the demand of a 30,000 farmers’ group from the Kisan Kranti March marching from West Uttar Pradesh (UP) to Delhi? On one hand, meeting of the BKU leaders along with dairy minister of UP is going on with Union Home Minister, Rajnath Singh. On the other hand, an out of control protest is handled by force on UP and Delhi Gate border. 

The earlier protests by farmers have had almost similar demands and most of them ended up with a similar outcome, a negotiation with the government and back to work. Bhartiya Kisan Union, a farmers union once headed by Mahendra Singh Tikait is spearheading the protests. From Monday night, entire Uttar Pradesh and Delhi’s bordering areas saw scattered groups of BKU members, few walking towards New Delhi and most rushing from Tractor trolleys.

Siraj Hussain, former secretary of Agriculture believes that it may not be easy to get the solution. “Farmers have suffered greatly due to downturn in domestic prices for most commodities. Global Prices have also fallen down and it has made us un-competitive,” says Siraj. Siraj though points out at the core of issue he clearly indicates a lack of interest by provincial administration. He says, “Kharif MSP’s have been raised substantially for several crops and it’s a welcome decision by union government but early indications are clearly showing that many of the states are not ready to deliver those MSP’s."  Siraj can clearly find politics in a complicated issue like dealing with farmers’ distress.

It was an undeclared ‘Band’ (Strike) like situation in bordering areas of Ghaziabad (U.P.) and New Delhi. As the evening starts to claim a regular rush night life on the 1st of October, most of the BKU members stopped their tractor trolleys right in the middle of the road and had captivated the streets that are busy during normal days and glittering during late evening.

Though the administration has done enough arrangements like mobile toilets and drinking water facilities, the surrounding areas appeared as a garbage yard when the BKU members moved forward. On the occasion of Mahatma Gandhi’s birth anniversary and the ‘Swachh Bharat’ movement’s fourth anniversary, streets in most of the areas neighbouring UP and Eastern Delhi were covered with plastic packets, plates and shamefully human piddle making mockery of one of the biggest cleanliness drives in the world.

Talking to BW Businessworld, BJP Kisan Morcha's Vice President justified the legitimate demands of hike in electricity prices in UP.  Sirohi also believes that MSP and their implementation is a complicated issue and it is also a challenge to state governments. Sirohi said, “I know that many of the demands are legitimate but there are elements who distort any such protest and the same may have happened during Kranti March. Meeting with Home Minister is in progress and I am hopeful that BKU will understand efforts by government.”

Sirohi defended the way BKU members scattered garbage on the streets including piddle. Most of farmers’ do not act in such a way, they are innocent. There is a huge number on streets you can’t control things every time and I have also shared that there may be few elements in the group. Hinting towards a close alarm for up-coming parliamentary elections, Sirohi did not deny of political intentions behind the Kisan Kranti March.