From February 13, 2024 to March 20, 2025 — for 400 days — farmers under the banner of Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) and Samyukta Kisan Morcha non-political staged a sit-in protest (dharna) at the Shambhu border between Punjab and Haryana. The dharna was then cleared up in a quick operation by the Punjab police. This was a far cry from the previous farm protest of 2020-21, in which farmers, camping at Delhi's borders, had made the Central government give in to their demands of repealing three new agriculture laws. What were the similarities and differences between Kisan Aandolan 1.0 and Kisan Aandolan 2.0? Why was one successful and popular, and the other not? We explain. When, where and who staged Kisan Aandolan 1 and Kisan Aandolan 2.0? Kisan Aandolan 1 was staged at Singhu, Tikri and Kundli borders of Haryana-Delhi from November 26, 2020- December 9, 2021. The total duration of the protest was 380 days, and the main demand was repealing of three farm laws. Finally, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the repeal on November 19, 2021, but the dharna was lifted on December 9, 2021, when the government agreed to the main demand in writing and also gave an assurance about other demands, including a legal guarantee of Minimum Support Price (MSP, or the rate at which the government buys certain crops). Over 750 farmers had died during the year-long protest. The farmers were largely from Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttrakhand, and Rajasthan. This protest was held under the banner of Samyukta Kisan Morcha, a flagship organisation of over 500 farmer unions across the country, with the support of trade unions. Farmers had lifted this dharna on their own and they had come home celebrating. Kisan Aandolan 2.0, however, was led by Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) and SKM non-political. It was at the Shambhu and Khanauri borders on NH-44 and NH-52 between Punjab and Haryana. The main demand was seeking MSP as a legal guarantee, along with 11 other demands. The SKM was not part of this protest, though they extended support. SKM non-political is an offshoot of SKM led by Jagjit Singh Dallewal while KMM is largely led by Punjab-based organisation Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee (KMSC). KMSC was not part of SKM even in Kisan Aandolan-1, though they had organised a dharna at Kundli border in 2020-21. Nearly 45 farmers died during this 400-day protest at both locations. Here, farmers were evicted from the dharna sites forcefully, thus resulting in loss of their belongings, as the temporary structures were demolished using cranes and tractors were lifted using lifting machines. Public support The 2020-21 farmers protest had a wide public support. Punjab's industry had even contributed funds for the protest, while shopkeepers had donated trucks loaded with garments, dry ration and various other things. Doctors, lawyers, etc. too had supported the cause. However, this time, farmer unions were not getting this support from the masses. Urban people were largely objecting to the closure of highways and the industry was angry with the AAP government for taking no action to lift the dharna. Punjab Pradesh Beopar Mandal had even called kisan unions a parallel government, and demands were raised for stringent laws to ban protests that block highways. Also, in the previous aandolan, AAP leaders had extended wide support to the protests. But this time, a protest against the Centre was hurting Punjab's economy, and also damaging the AAP government. Multiple rounds of talks between the government and the farmers had failed. Mode of protest Dilli Chalo was the call given in both the protests. And in both protests, farmers had sought a place to protest in Delhi, which was not given to them. The only difference was that this time, they kept on protesting within the jurisdiction of Punjab, and hence hurting Punjab's economy alone. The inner roads of villages close to Shambhu and Khanauri borders have been damaged. Many dhabhas, petrol pumps were running out of business in Punjab due to this protest. “Going to Delhi was almost like going to a separate country," said Upkar Singh, president of Chamber of Industrial and Commercial Undertakings. Farmers had followed an aggressive mode of protest this time, and as a result, tear gas shelling was used on them by Haryana security forces multiple times, injuring over 450 farmers in February last year in which one died and six lost their eyesight. In December last year as well, over 100 were injured in tear gas shelling by Haryana security forces when attempts were made to march ahead. Jagjit Singh Dallewal, convenor of SKM non-political, has been on a hunger strike from November 26 last year. What next Most leaders of KMM and SKM non-political have been arrested by the Punjab police. The union leaders who have been spared have stated their struggle will continue.
