“One of the key contrasts between the ongoing farmer protests and the 2020 agitation that led to the Centre’s withdrawal of the three controversial farm laws is the noticeable absence of Haryana farmers.

The failure of Punjab farmers to bring their Haryana counterparts into the fold of the current protests is being attributed to multiple factors. These include the hasty ‘Dilli Chalo’ call in the previous movement, and the unexpected return of the BJP to power in Haryana following the October 2024 Assembly elections.

Additionally, the new proactive approach of the Nayab Singh Saini government, coupled with initiatives like the Bhawantar Bharpayee Yojana (a price deficiency payment program) and the state’s decision in December 2024 to procure 24 crops at Minimum Support Price (MSP), are seen as reasons why many farmers from Haryana are staying out of the protest, organized by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM).

Although the MSP procurement initiative didn’t impress all farmer leaders, it was perceived as the Haryana government’s attempt to address the MSP issue. For farmer leaders like Suresh Koth, this move was seen as a step in the right direction, though he emphasized that only the Centre could ensure a legal guarantee for MSP.

During the 2020 agitation, farmers came together under the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), which was later split, leading to the formation of SKM (Non-Political) by certain organizations from Punjab. The fragmentation of leadership, with power centers like the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) led by Gurnam Singh Charuni, SKM, SKM (Non-Political), and KMM, has also contributed to Haryana farmers’ reluctance to join the ongoing protests.

While BKU (Charuni) spokesperson Rakesh Bains called on protesting leaders to invite Haryana farmers to the protest, Suresh Koth pointed out that many Haryana unions, which are affiliated with the SKM, opted out because their leadership was sidelined.

Without adequate support from Haryana, the police and paramilitary forces have managed to halt the farmers’ march to Delhi, confining them to Shambhu and Khanauri at the Punjab-Haryana border.

In the past, Haryana farmers’ anger had been stoked by the police’s use of force against protests, a sentiment that had helped the BJP’s Lok Sabha performance in the state to deteriorate. Despite this, the BJP’s consolidation of non-Jat votes led to its electoral victory.

Though Haryana farmers haven’t fully stayed out of the protests, the health concerns surrounding Jagjit Singh Dallewal have led to farmer bodies organizing protests and tractor marches in his support, acknowledging the legitimacy of the ongoing demands. On January 4, farmer mahapanchayats were held in Tohana and at the Khanauri border, with participation from both Punjab and Haryana.

The BKU (Shaheed Bhagat Singh), an active participant in the current agitation, has urged Haryana farmers to join in, despite ideological differences. Amarjeet Singh Mohri, the president of the organization, mentioned that some Haryana farmers had already joined and that on January 10, farmers from Haryana would express their discontent by burning effigies of Prime Minister Modi.”