Farmers celebrate at the border as protests suspended after 378 days.
Nearly 15 months after the farmers’ agitation against agricultural laws and other issues began, the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella body of farmers’ unions leading the protest, on Thursday said it has suspended the agitation. . Receiving positive assurances from the government on their demands, he said that the borders of Delhi would be cleared by Saturday, December 11. The SKM also said that it would hold a review meeting on January 15.
The agitation continued even after three agricultural laws – the Farmer’s Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020; Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Agricultural Services Bill, 2020; And the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill 2020 – repealed by the Parliament, as the prime demand of farmers stuck to their demands with legal backing for Minimum Support Price (MSP) for all farmers.
Following is a timeline since these were introduced as ordinances, which led to the farmers’ agitation till Thursday’s announcement by the SKM to suspend the agitation:
June 5, 2020: Center brings in three ordinances which it claims will bring about long pending reforms; Farmers will be able to sell their produce at better prices.
July-August, 2020: Protests in parts of Punjab against three agriculture bills
September 14, 2020: Government introduced three bills in Lok Sabha
September 17, 2020: Lok Sabha passed all three agriculture bills without debate
September 20, 2020: Rajya Sabha passes bills by voice vote
September 24, 2020: Punjab farmers announce rail roko movement
September 27, 2020: President approves three agricultural laws
November 2020: The United Kisan Morcha was formed as a federation of more than two dozen farmer organisations, mostly from Punjab, but others also joined in.
November 26, 2020: The march of the farmers towards Delhi started, the police put many obstacles including nailing the roads, digging the roads.
November 27, 2020: Farmers reach Singhu border, Tikri border, Ghazipur border in large numbers, bring tractor and trolley, set pandal, langar etc.
November 28, 2020: The government offers to negotiate with one condition that the farmers move to Burari; Farmers are demanding to make Ram Leela Maidan a protest site.
December 3-9, 2020: Government started talks with farmers, farmer leaders rejected the government’s proposal to amend three laws
December 11, 2020: Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) reached the Supreme Court against three agricultural laws
January 7-12, 2021: The Supreme Court allowed the matter to be heard; Prohibits the implementation of three laws and appoints a committee to make recommendations
January 20-25, 2021: Farmers reject government proposals to insist on moratorium and repeal of agricultural laws for 18 months
January 26, 2021: tractor rally of farmers on republic day; big clash with police; A group of protesters damaged the Red Fort, hoisted the Khalsa flag with the tricolor
January 27, 2021: A day after the Red Fort drama, Delhi Police forcibly put up barricades at all borders where farmer groups are protesting
February 14, 2021: Bengaluru youth activist Disha Ravi arrested for editing and spreading ‘toolkit’ in support of farmers’ movement
March 5, 2021: Resolution passed by Punjab Assembly demanding withdrawal of three laws
March 19, 2021: The committee appointed by the Supreme Court submitted its report
May 27, 2021: Farmers observe ‘Black Day’ to mark six months of agitation
June 5, 2021: ‘Sampoorna Krantikari Diwas’ (Total Revolution Day) by farmers marks a year of ordinances that paved the way for three agricultural laws
July 22, 2021: ‘Farmers’ Parliament’ started at Jantar Mantar parallel to the monsoon session of Parliament
August 7, 2021: Leaders of 14 opposition parties decide to go to ‘Kisan Sansad’
September 5, 2021: ‘Kisan Mahapanchayat’ organized in Muzaffarnagar; Announcement of farmers to oust UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Prime Minister Narendra Modi from power
September 27, 2021: Farmers’ union’s call for ‘Bharat Bandh’ mixed response; No entry of farmers in Delhi, maximum action in North-West Indian states
September 7, 2021: ‘Kisan Mahapanchayat’ held in Karnal, action shifted to Haryana
October 4, 2021: Four farmers are among those killed when the car of the protesting farmers in UP’s Lakhimpur Kheri overturned.
November 17, 2021: Supreme Court appoints retired High Court judge to probe Lakhimpur Kheri case
November 19, 2021: Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that three agriculture laws will be repealed
November 21, 2021: United Kisan Morcha wrote a letter to the Prime Minister; Six demands were made including legal support for MSP
November 22, 2021: SKM honored the families of martyrs of Lakhimpur Kheri massacre in Lucknow Kisan Mahapanchayat
November 23, 2021: Anil Ghanwat, a member of the committee on agricultural laws appointed by the Supreme Court, wrote a letter to the apex court to issue the report of the committee
November 24, 2021: The Union Cabinet has approved the ‘Agriculture Laws Repeal Bill, 2021’
November 26, 2021: Farmers’ meeting across India marks one year of the movement of United Kisan Morcha
November 28, 2021: SKM postpones planned ‘tractor march to Parliament’; Thousands of farmers participate in Shetkari Kamgar Mahapanchayat at Azad Maidan in Mumbai
November 29, 2021: First Lok Sabha, then Rajya Sabha passed ‘Agriculture Laws Repeal Bill 2021’ by voice vote, SKM issued a cautious response
November 29, 2021: Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar praised the Prime Minister, said – there is no difference between what he says and does
November 30, 2021Government has sought five names from the agitating farmers to be included in the proposed committee on MSP
November 30, 2021Government told Lok Sabha, there is no data relating to either cases against farmers killed during agitation and hence there is no question of providing financial assistance to anyone
December 1, 2021President’s assent to ‘Agriculture Law Repeal Act 2021’
December 4, 2021: With no concrete promise from the government, the SKM announced the continuation of the agitation; Announcement of names of five members for talks with the government
December 7, 2021: Government sent the first draft of its letter to SKM, later SKM sought further clarification
December 9, 2021: SKM announces suspension of agitation after positive assurance from government on their demands; To review the situation on 15 January 2022
Read also | Farmers’ protest Highlights: Movement suspended after 378 days; ‘Ghar Wapsi’ from December 11
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