Background of the Farmers’ Protest

In 2020, the Government of India introduced three agricultural reform laws that aimed to change how agricultural markets operate. The government stated that the reforms would modernize agriculture and give farmers more freedom to sell their crops. However, many farmers, particularly in Punjab and Haryana, feared that the new policies could weaken existing protections such as the minimum support price system and allow large corporations to dominate agricultural markets.

In response to these concerns, thousands of farmers organized protests and traveled toward the capital city of Delhi in November 2020. When they reached the borders of the city, they established large protest camps at locations such as Singhu, Tikri, and Ghazipur. These camps became temporary communities where farmers lived, organized meetings, and continued peaceful demonstrations for more than a year.

The protest attracted widespread attention across India and around the world. Farmers used marches, tractor rallies, and public discussions to communicate their concerns and demand the repeal of the agricultural laws. After months of negotiations and continued demonstrations, the government eventually announced the repeal of the laws in November 2021, marking a significant moment in the movement.