Journalism of Courage
15 Express photos to sum up a year since passing of farm laws
1 / 15Three contentious farm laws were passed in Lok Sabha on September 17, 2020, triggering massive protests from farmers. One year from the day, the farmers — who fear the laws will lead to the abolishment of the minimum support price (MSP) guaranteed by the government on select crops, and leave them at the mercy of big corporates — continue their struggle to get the legislations repealed completely. In pic: A farmer protester sitting at Ghazipur border on a chilly December day last year.
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2 / 15After the ordinance was passed in Rajya Sabha by voice vote on September 20, farmers across India took to the streets in response to a call by the All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee (AIKSCC). After sporadic protests against the new farm laws, including a nationwide road blockade on November 3, farmers’ unions in Punjab and Haryana gave the call for a ‘Delhi Chalo movement’ on November 25. in pic: Farmers blocked the NH-9 during Bharat Bandh call against the agri bill.
3 / 15Farmers marching towards Delhi faced water cannons, tear gas as the police tried to disperse them. They finally settled at different border points -- Singhu, Tikri and Ghazipur -- of the national capital. In pic: Farmers sit in protest at Singhu border, New Delhi in January.
4 / 15After this, several round of talks were held between the Centre and the representatives of the protesting farmers to end the deadlock. However, all these discussion sessions between the two sides remained inconclusive. In pic: Tractors and other vehicles take part in rehearsal for tractor rally scheduled for January 26, 2021.
5 / 15On Republic day, thousands of protestors clashed with the police during the tractor parade called by farmer unions. After several protestors from Singhu and Ghazipur changed their route, they marched towards Central Delhi’s ITO and Red Fort, where police resorted to teargas shelling and lathi charge while some farmers vandalised public property and attacked police personnel. At Red Fort, a section of protesters climbed poles and walls and hoisted the Nishan Sahib flag. One protester died in the chaos.
6 / 15Tensions rose at Delhi’s Ghazipur border after the administration in neighbouring UP’s Ghaziabad district issued orders for protesting farmers to vacate the site by night. By evening, as police in anti-riot gear started spreading out at the site, the protesters camped there and their leaders, including BKU’s Rakesh Tikait, said they would not leave. In pic: a farmer sitting at Ghazipur border.
7 / 15The cyber-crime cell of the Delhi Police registered an FIR on charges of “sedition”, “criminal conspiracy” and “promoting hatred” against the creators of a ‘toolkit’ on farmer protests, which was shared by Greta Thunberg. In pic: Farmers at the protest site at Singhu border in New Delhi.
8 / 15The Punjab Vidhan Sabha passed a resolution asking for the unconditional withdrawal of the farm laws in the interest of the farmers and Punjab, and to continue with the existing system of MSP-based government procurement of foodgrains. In pic: Police personnel stand behind the barricades on road during farmer's protest at Ghazipur border. (Express Photo)
9 / 15Farmers completed 100 days at Delhi’s borders on March 6, 2021. In pic: Women farmers in protest at Singhu Border.
10 / 15Farmers observed a ‘black day’to mark six months of the agitation, and burned effigies of the government. Though the crowds at the three borders have thinned, farm leaders said that agitation will continue till 2024 if their demands are not met. In pic: Security and barbed wire at Singhu Border.
11 / 15Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait, during a press conference, also reiterated that farmers will call off the protest only once the three farm laws are repealed. In pic: Yashwant Sinha and Tikait at Ghazipur farmers protest site in June.
12 / 15About 200 protesting farmers started a parallel “Monsoon Session”, Kisan Sansad, near the Parliament House, condemning the three farm laws. Members of Opposition parties staged protests in front of the Mahatma Gandhi statue inside the House complex. Parliament proceedings were adjourned repeatedly as the Opposition cornered the Centre over farm laws among other issues. in pic: A farmer at Singhu Border.
13 / 15The agitation returned to the spotlight when Haryana Police cracked down on farmers in Karnal, leaving several injured in a lathicharge at the Bastara toll plaza on the national highway. One of the injured farmers, Sushil Kajal, later died of heart attack, giving way to a larger protest.
14 / 15Bringing to an end the five-day standoff between farmers and the Karnal district administration, the Haryana government agreed to conduct a probe by a retired judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court into the August 28 police lathicharge on farmers at the Bastara toll plaza. In pic: Farmers move towards Mini Secretariat at Karnal in Haryana.
15 / 15Even after a year, farmers' demands stand the same. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued notices to the Centre and the state governments of Delhi, Rajasthan, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh over the “adverse impact” of the ongoing farmers’ protests on industrial units and transportation.
