THURSDAY, 7 JANUARY 2021 10 NEW DELHI

REPORTAGE | TALKING POINTS | IDEAS | INSIGHT | THE BOTTOMLINE THE FACES BEHIND THE FARMER REVOLT

Unlikely alliances brought the disquiet to Delhi’s doorstep. Here’s the definitive behind-the-scenes account.

In June, when the three new farm bills were imposed by way of an emergency ordinance, very few, including the government, anticipated any strong resistance. PRADEEP GAUR/MINT

Sayantan Bera Rakab Ganj gurudwara and the CPIM, which has a strong ground pres- mint 40 days, the movement is not in the hands [email protected] unplanned breaching of the barricades on ence in Maharashtra and Rajasthan, SHORT of any leader. Yet, the fact that the Ghazi- NEW DELHI the Punjab-Haryana border a month later among other states. STORY pur site is growing in numbers is critical. turned out to be critical events. “Within the AIKSCC, my role was to go “Unless you get the cow-belt to protest, nough is enough. How long will beyond the coalition and persuade others the goals of the movement could prove to we sit like this? Let us break the DILLI CHALO to accept outsiders. That wasn’t easy,” said WHAT be elusive,” said Sandhu, the author. barricades and move toward he call for the march toward Delhi on Yogendra Yadav, who was instrumental in Delhi. If some lives have to be T26-27 November was given by the All stitching together AIKSCC in 2017. “Some The farm laws were passed amid THE LAST BIG FIGHT sacrificed, then so be it,” said one India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination of us inside AIKSCC were absolutely con- a ruckus in Parliament but, even ccording to several farmer leaders, Efirebrand farmer leader during a recent Committee (AIKSCC), a loose coalition of vinced that unless there was the broadest then, the opposition was mostly ABalbir Singh Rajewal, 78, has played meeting at Singhu on the Delhi-Haryana over 200 farmer unions from across India, possible unity, we would not be able to do limited to rural Punjab. So, how a crucial role in coalescing the movement border, where thousands of farmers have which came about in 2017 with a limited such a large agitation.” did the movement become this within Punjab alongside the likes of Ugra- been camping inside tractor trolleys since set of demands: remunerative crop prices While the Rakabgunj meeting laid the big, this long, and this vociferous? han and Bhartiya Kisan Union (Ekta-Da- 27 November. The frustration was palpa- and a complete debt waiver. A foundation, the thousands sitting kaunda). “Once Rajewal saab made his ble. Several rounds of talks with the gov- feat on the part of AIKSCC at the borders would not have opposition clear, the Akalis could no ernment had yielded little and patience was to get several farmer been there if not for one AND longer ignore the ground sentiment,” said was running out. leaders from Punjab man. “In this move- a farmer leader who didn’t wish to be iden- But on that day, the proposal was shot and Haryana, who ment, some mistakes A set of key events and people tified. It eventually led to the ruling Bhar- down. “Ahimsa (non-violence) is our only were not a part of have proved to be were instrumental to the tiya Janata Party losing its oldest ally, the strength. If we become violent, we (will) the coalition, to very useful,” said movement. Among others, a late- Shiromani Akali Dal from Punjab. Rajewal lose this battle,” said another farmer lend their support one farmer leader. October meeting at Delhi’s has also been articulating the farmers’ leader from Punjab. Surprisingly, the per- to the Delhi The reference is to Rakab Ganj gurudwara turned position on the “unconstitutionality of the son who vehemently opposed the pro- march. The deci- Gurnam Singh out to be a critical moment. bills” and how it contradicts the concept of posal belonged to a revolutionary com- sion to join hands Chaduni from Har- cooperative federalism. Like many farmer munist group and wasn’t expected to was taken at a 27 yana, who defied leaders who are past their prime, he has argue like a staunch Gandhian. October meeting at the unanimous plan NOW been quite frankly saying to others that The moment captures the extraordi- the Gurdwara Rakab to sit peacefully on the “this is going to be the last big fight for me nary and unlikely changes in outlook and Ganj in Delhi. Among Punjab-Haryana border Many of the farmer leaders who and I do not wish to die with a blot.” alliances that had to take place over the those present were and instead broke are out on the streets have Among the myriad events and people, course of just a few weeks for the farmer 78-year-old Balbir Singh through the barricades in not seen eye-to-eye for years, a lone person has worked to keep the movement to have such staying power. Rajewal, a veteran farmer leader Ambala on 25 November. if not decades. Yet, decisions are broader goals at the forefront, Yogendra Over 200,000 farmers remain on Delhi’s from Punjab, and the fiery Gurnam Singh In the following days, Chaduni, along being taken jointly, brushing Yadav said, referring to the only women doorsteps—at four points demarcating the Chaduni, the face of the farmer agitation with youth from Punjab, was instrumental aside years of acrimony. who is a part of the negotiating team, Kavi- capital’s border with Haryana, Uttar Pra- in Haryana. in breaching barricades in Shambhu, Kur- tha Kuruganti. “She speaks many langua- desh and Rajasthan. The Rakab Ganj meeting, in a way, ukshetra, Karnal and Panipat. This liter- ges. She connected leaders from outside Many of the farmer leaders who are out ensured the size and the clout of the cur- ally opened the floodgates, allowing farm- ing the highways and likened Burari to an a day-to-day basis would not be possible to Punjab unions... from preparing notes on the streets have not seen eye-to-eye for rent movement. That would not have ers to reach the Delhi border with their “open jail”. without Darshan Pal, a former anaesthe- and letters to the government and man- years, if not decades. Yet, decisions are been possible without the initiative taken tractor trolleys in tow. tist and president of the Krantikari Kisan ning the war room to smoothening ego being taken jointly, brushing aside years by V M Singh, a farmer leader from Uttar “An early September rally organised by TOUCHING WITH A TONG Union in Punjab. “He is the glue that holds clashes, she has pushed herself selflessly of acrimony and differences. While the Pradesh who was then the convenor of Gurnam Singh in Pipli, Haryana, was not ost 27 November, farmer unions have all of us together,” said one farmer leader. at great personal cost,” Yadav said. Kuru- outcome of the agitation may become AIKSCC. However, by the time the farm- just a show of strength but also a turning Pdemonstrated a never seen before A significant leverage point or bargain- ganti missed meeting her father one final clear only with time, the pushback by the ers arrived at Singhu, a series of missteps point for the state. He is the guy who unity. But tensions have spilled out at ing chip for the movement is also the time by a few hours when he passed away farmers is already a case study in the art of on Singh’s part led to his ouster from worked day and night by organising small times. Joginder Singh Ugrahan, 75, strength at the different border zones of on 17 December. She had to attend a meet- protest—in a social atmosphere where AIKSCC and him becoming a persona non meetings and sensitising the farmers in among the most popular farmer leader Delhi. Other than Tikri and Singhu on the ing at the Singhu border before boarding protest is increasingly viewed with suspi- grata in the movement. The first was to ask Haryana,” said Ramandeep Singh Mann, from Punjab who gathered tens of thou- Delhi-Haryana border, large troupes of a flight to Bengaluru. cion. farmers not to come to an independent farm activist who is a part sands of farmers and farm labourers at the farmers are stationed at After a series of such In June, when the Delhi, followed by a of the ongoing agitation. Chaduni, often Tikri border, publicly said, “I am working the Shahjahanpur bor- personal sacrifices and three new farm bills While the outcome of the press meet where he said described as an old-school and confronta- with those who I would not even touch der with Rajasthan A significant leverage point or losses (more than 65 pro- were imposed by way of agitation may become clear farmers from Uttar Pra- tional farmer leader, ensured that the with a chimta (tong).” (where Yogendra Yadav bargaining chip for the testors have died due to an emergency ordi- desh will independently movement was no longer limited to Pun- Ugrahan, a staunch leftist who is widely is camping) and the the winter chill, road nance, very few, includ- only with time, the pushback negotiate with the gov- jab. Without the participation and active known as a man with his own mind, has so Ghazipur border with movement is the strength at accidents or by suicide), ing the government, by an unlikely coalition of ernment. support of farmers from Haryana, the pro- far refused to be a part of any committee— UP. the different border zones of the appetite for compro- anticipated any strong The Rakab Ganj meet- testors would have faced a logistical night- including the seven-member coordina- “Rakesh Tikait has mise is very low. In the resistance. In Septem- farmers is already a case ing also led to a new body mare. tion committee of the Samyukt Kisan done a tremendous job Delhi. Over 200,000 have words of Balbir Rajewal: ber, the laws were since disparate groups After the farmers reached the Delhi Morcha—but his sheer presence and in holding the fort at “The situation is such passed amid a ruckus in study in the art of protest were not ready to fight border on 27 November, the government strength lends a great deal of mettle to the Ghazipur and providing assembled in four sites that no one dare leave the Parliament but, even under the banner of requested them to move to the Burari movement. “The inclusivity which Ugra- unconditional support each other’s side now.” then, the opposition was mostly limited to AIKSCC. The Samyukt Kisan Morcha was grounds in north Delhi and vacate the han practices by taking farm labourers to the movement (even though he joined Rajinder Singh, a farmer leader with the rural Punjab. So, how did the movement born on 7 November. This ensured that all national highways. Most farmer leaders along in any movement is showing its the movement late, only after farmers had Kirti Kisan Union, explained the mood by become this big, this long, and also this 32 farmer organisations from Punjab were decided to accept the offer, but it was results. It is due to him that Dalits from the reached Delhi’s borders),” said Kavitha quoting a popular proverb from Punjab: vociferous? now a part of the “Dilli chalo” call. It is this rejected after two—Nirbhay Singh from Malwa region of Punjab (but not from Kuruganti from the policy advocacy group Khaada peeta lahe da, Ahmed Shahe da (all A set of key events and people were Morcha which is now negotiating with the the Kirti Kisan Union and Harmeet Singh Majha or Doaba) has joined the protests,” ASHA-Kisan Swaraj. you have is what you consume, Ahmed instrumental in bringing the disquiet to government and is represented by 41 lead- from Bhartiya Kisan Union (Qadian), both said Amandeep Sandhu, author of Panjab: The primary stakeholder—the farmer— Shah loots the rest). “We have battled Delhi’s doorstep. Most of the behind-the- ers from different states, including from from Punjab—put up a staunch opposi- Journeys through Fault Lines. cares little about the internal dynamics of invaders for two thousand years. And we scenes action is not widely known. Among Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, and tion. Soon after, all the farmer leaders real- The apparent coming together of dispa- disparate unions. It is also clear that after prepared for this fight for months. Who do others, a late-October meeting at Delhi’s outfits like the All India Kisan Sabha of the ised the leverage they have got by block- rate groups and their working together on making the highways their home for over we fear?”