Farmer Agitations 2.0: The Battle for Dignity and Fairness Rekindles in India

 

The fields of India are once again stirring with discontent as a fresh wave of farmer agitations sweeps across the nation in 2025. Despite the repeal of the controversial farm laws in late 2021, many of the deeper issues plaguing Indian agriculture remain unresolved. Farmers from Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and parts of Madhya Pradesh have resumed their protests, demanding a legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price (MSP), loan waivers, pension schemes, and crop insurance reforms. Speaking to The Hindu, veteran farmer leader Rakesh Tikait warned, “The government thinks farmers have gone silent after 2021. We were waiting. Now, we will fight till our demands are permanently secured.” His words capture the simmering frustration and renewed determination among rural India’s backbone.

The triggers for this fresh unrest are varied but interconnected. First, the promise of legally ensuring MSP — a key demand during the earlier protests — remains unfulfilled. Though the government had formed a committee to look into MSP guarantees, its recommendations were seen as toothless by most farmer unions. Second, the continuing cycle of crop failures due to erratic weather patterns, worsened by climate change, has left farmers heavily indebted. “How long can we survive on false promises?” asked Satnam Singh, a cotton farmer from Bathinda, in an emotional interview with NDTV. He lamented losing two consecutive harvests and blamed both natural disasters and what he called “government negligence.” In parallel, input costs — for seeds, fertilizers, diesel — have skyrocketed while farmgate prices have stagnated, squeezing rural incomes dangerously.The government's response has been a mix of negotiation offers and warnings. Union Agriculture Minister Arjun Munda stated during a press briefing that the government was "open to dialogue" but cautioned against "unlawful gatherings" and "disturbing public order." However, many farmer groups remain skeptical. “We have heard these words before," said Dr. Darshan Pal, a key figure in the Samyukt Kisan Morcha, while speaking to The Wire. "Unless something is written into law, we cannot trust mere assurances anymore." The farmers’ deep mistrust stems from years of feeling sidelined by policies they claim are designed more for corporate interests than for the small and marginal farmer.

On the ground, the protests have taken a new form compared to 2020-21. While earlier protests were concentrated at Delhi’s borders, this time, the movement is more decentralized. Sit-ins, tractor rallies, and community kitchens are popping up in small towns and villages. In Maharashtra’s Vidarbha region, thousands of farmers marched under the banner of the Shetkari Sanghatana, demanding compensation for crop losses and immediate relief measures. A report by India Today noted that younger farmers, some with college degrees, are leading these local mobilizations, making the movement digitally savvy and harder for authorities to contain.Adding complexity to the crisis is the political backdrop. With the Lok Sabha elections just weeks away, opposition parties have thrown their weight behind the farmers, seeing an opportunity to corner the ruling BJP. At a rally in Amritsar, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi declared, “When the farmer cries, the nation bleeds. We stand with them.” Meanwhile, BJP leaders have accused opposition parties of "politicizing farmer issues for electoral gains." Political scientist Gilles Verniers pointed out during a panel discussion on Scroll.in that rural anger could tilt crucial battlegrounds in Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, and western Uttar Pradesh, regions that were once strongholds for the ruling party.

The media narrative around the protests has also shifted. Unlike in 2020, when mainstream outlets were often accused of demonizing protesters as "anti-national," the current coverage has been somewhat more sympathetic, reflecting broader public empathy amid rising inflation and visible rural distress. Ground reports by independent outlets like The Caravan and Newslaundry have captured heart-wrenching stories of farmers selling off their cattle, pulling children out of school, and even migrating to cities for menial jobs — painting a stark picture of agrarian despair.Experts warn that unless systemic reforms are initiated, mere financial packages or election-time promises will not be enough. Agricultural economist Dr. Ashok Gulati, in an interview with Mint, emphasized, "We need to move beyond crisis management. Structural reforms — land leasing laws, supply chain modernization, farmer producer organizations (FPOs) — are critical." He further added that addressing the power imbalance between farmers and large agribusiness corporations was essential to securing farmer welfare.

The emotional toll of the protests is palpable. Speaking to Times of India, 55-year-old farmer Ravinder Yadav from Muzaffarnagar broke down while narrating how he lost his land to bank auctions. "It’s not just about crops," he said. "It’s about our respect. It’s about our right to live with dignity." His voice trembled with a mix of sorrow and defiance — the very emotions fueling Farmer Agitations 2.0.As India marches into a politically volatile summer, the farmer protests serve as a powerful reminder that beneath the shiny GDP numbers and digital economy headlines lies a deeply wounded agricultural sector — one that refuses to be forgotten. Whether the government chooses dialogue over confrontation, reform over rhetoric, will determine not just the fate of these protests, but the future of India's democracy itself.

BY:AYSUH CHATURVEDI