Farmers groups continue to express their dissent for Haryana ruling Bharatiya Janata Party - BJP government in the poll-bound state. The farmers are planning to host a series of mahapanchayats to raise awareness about these issues and pending demands.
The state was the epicentre of 2020-21 farmers' protests against the now-scrapped farm laws, led by the Samyukt Kisan Morcha.
The Samyuk Kisan Morch (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, leading the protests at Shambhu and Khanauri borders, oppose the BJP and demand legally guaranteed MSP, no power sector privatisation, and more.
Abhimanyu Kohar, a farmer leader from the SKM (NP), said the impact of the farmers' protests was visible in the recent Lok Sabha polls as well, and the protests that have been happening have made people in the rural areas aware that they should vote on their issues.
"Even in the Lok Sabha elections, the BJP faced losses in rural areas. The 2020-21 protests and the ones that started on February 13, 2024, have raised awareness. And farmers and labourers are voting on the issues that impact them," Kohar stated, adding, "Issues like Minimum Support Price (MAP), and implementing the recommendations of the Swaminathan Commission are major factors in rural Haryana."
He then added that the atrocities done on the protesters during the farmer's demonstration have not been forgotten.
He said, "The violence and atrocities that were committed on farmers are fresh in the minds of people. They will teach the BJP a lesson in this election."
The SKM-NP is reaching out to villages through public meetings and a 'video van', with plans for 'Mahapanchayats' on September 15 and 22.
"We are holding small public meetings, where we are also showing images and videos of the incidents," he said.
All India Kisan Sabha's Sumit Singh says farmers' issues will dominate the upcoming elections, with plans to hold 'Kisan Majdoor Mahapanchayats' between September 1 and 10.
The farmers' demands include guaranteed MSP, no power sector privatisation, and more, with the SKM-NP and others opposing the BJP's policies but not campaigning for any party.
The elections, scheduled for October 1, will see the BJP face challenges from the Congress, Aam Aadmi Party, Indian National Lok Dal, and others, with farmer leaders warning of vote division but urging opposition parties to unite against the BJP.
Follow us
