Farmers' protest: Key differences in 2020 versus 2024 agitation

The protesting farmers tried to break the multi-layered barricades using their tractors and hand weapons.

Thousands of farmers from Haryana, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh were back on the road to the national capital on February 13 over two years after they had called off their strike.

The move came after the last round of talks between the farmer leaders and the Union ministers remained inconclusive on February 12 night.  Massive security arrangements have been made and borders have been between Punjab and Haryana and Haryana and Delhi to deter farmers from entering New Delhi. However, this protest is different from the ones the farmers held in 2020-2021.

Catch LIVE updates of the protest here. 

Let us explore the differences between farmer's protest 2.0 vs 2020 agitation.

Different demands

In 2020, the farmers protested the three farm laws. They were repealed by the Centre in 2021. However, the key demand this time is different. They want legal guarantee to MSP for all crops, full debt waiver and pension for farmers, the implementation of the Swaminathan Commission's formula, and withdrawal of cases against farmers during the 2020 protest.

#WATCH | Haryana: Protesting farmers forcibly remove the cement barricade in Haryana's Kurukshetra#FarmersProtest pic.twitter.com/qifYSpsHpv

— ANI (@ANI) February 13, 2024

According to the guidelines, the government sets the MSP for nearly two dozen commodities twice a year based on the recommendations of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices.

Changed strategy

The earlier protests saw huge mobilisation and massive economic loss in and around Delhi. However, this time around 25,000 farmers and 5,000 have been part of the march. Also, in 2020, farmers could reach Delhi but this time the administration imposed measures such as barbed wire, cement barricades and nails to stop them. Even Section 144 has been imposed in Delhi.

Change in leadership

In 2020, Rakesh Tikait and Gurnam Singh Charuni were two prominent leaders of the protest.  But this time, Jagjit Singh Dallewal, leader of SKM (non-political), and Sarwan Singh Pandher, general secretary of Sarwan Singh Pandher are spearheading the protest.

Different outfits involved

The 2020 protest was led by Bhartiya Kisan Union and Samyukt Kisan Morcha. The Delhi Chalo protest is being spearheaded by different unions. This time, the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha have announced the protest.

Govt action

During the last time, the Centre accepted the demand to withdraw all cases against the protesters. However, there was no legal guarantee of MSP. This time, the Centre began  the negotiation process even before the Delhi Chalo movement began. The first meeting between the farmer leaders and the Union ministers took place on February 8, while the second happened on February 12.