Evolving Dynamics: Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha Lead 2024 Farmers’ Protest

The upcoming farmers’ protest in 2024, where over 200 farmer unions are set to march to Delhi on Tuesday, is organized by the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (non-political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha. This march, named Delhi Chalo, follows the historic year-long protest in 2020 that led to the government’s withdrawal of three farm laws. However, the landscape of farmers’ unions has undergone significant changes since then.

The Samyukt Kisan Morcha and Bharatiya Kisan Union, prominent in the 2020 protest, are not taking the lead this time. Instead, a faction of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha, formed in November 2020 and led by Jagjit Singh Dallewal, is at the forefront. This faction asserts its non-political stance.

The Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, led by Sarwan Singh Pandher, was not part of the 2020 protest. Pandher emphasizes that the current protest is non-political and denies backing from any political party, including the Congress. The SKM has distanced itself from the Delhi Chalo march but expressed concern over the intimidating atmosphere created.

Amid these developments, SKM and other central trade unions have called for a nationwide strike and rural bandh on February 16. Farmer leader Rakesh Tikait, from Bharatiya Kisan Union, will not participate in the Delhi Chalo protest but supports the ‘Bharat bandh’ on February 16, urging farmers to refrain from working on that day as a form of agricultural strike. The evolving dynamics among these farmer unions reflect a nuanced and changing landscape in their approach to protests and negotiations with the government.