Intermediaries have also played a key role, conveying farmers’ sentiment to the government. There are at least four intermediaries whose role is important.
Bharatiya Kisan Sangh, supported by RSS
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’s farmers wing, the Bharatiya Kisan Sangh, has been constantly calling on the government to meet with farmers midway. The BKS has called for amendments to all three pieces of legislation, although it has not called for a complete repeal or endorsed the Bharat Bandh farmers’ unions.
The feedback from BKS has been threefold:
First, inform the government of discontent among farmers, not only due to the new agricultural laws, but also to other factors.
Second, it has underlined the need for the government to communicate with farmers more effectively and remove any misunderstandings.
Third, it has also warned the Center about possible reactions that could take place if farmers’ concerns are not addressed.
He has also lobbied for a written guarantee on minimum support prices.
Punjab BJP leaders like Surjit Jayani
BJP leaders in Punjab like Surjit Kumar Jayani have also been important intermediaries between the government and farmers’ unions. Jayani is particularly important as she is a prominent face of the BJP in the Malwa region, which is also the area of influence for most agricultural unions.
It comes from Fazilka, in the extreme southwest of Punjab. Most of the other BJP leaders are from Doaba, such as Union Minister Som Parkash or former MP Vijay Sampla, or from Majha, such as the current head of the state unit Ashwani Sharma or his immediate predecessor Shwait Malik.
Therefore, Jayani has a slightly better understanding of the farmers’ unions than the other leaders.
Like Jayani and Punjab BJPs, the Haryana unit of BJP has also communicated to the central leadership that the anger of the farmers should not be underestimated.
Dushyant Chautala and JJP
There are two other intermediaries, outside the hierarchy of BJP and RSS who have also contributed to this.
One is Dushyant Chautala and the Jannayak Janata Party. Like the BKS, JJP has also lobbied for a written guarantee on MSP.
Chautala has also reportedly advised against using harsh tactics against protesters.
Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh and former CM Parkash Singh Badal
Then there is Punjab’s chief minister, Captain Amarinder Singh, who met with the Union Minister of the Interior, Amit Shah, on December 3. He is known to have communicated that the continued stalemate could have “security implications” given that Punjab is a “sensitive border state”.
Former CM Parkash Singh Badal spoke to Prime Minister Modi, urging him to resolve the deadlock and address farmers’ concerns.
So the feedback from all of these intermediaries may have caused the Center to moderate its approach.
.
