Farmers in Punjab and Haryana protest for legal support

Farmers are protesting again in India, but this time it's different from the large protests in 2020-2021. The recent protests, which began in February 2024 and ended in March 2025, took place at the Shambhu border between Punjab and Haryana. This protest was organized by the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) and a non-political group known as Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM). In contrast, the 2020-21 protests lasted over 380 days and were primarily organized under the banner of SKM. Those protests led to the repeal of three controversial agriculture laws after significant public support and dialogue with the government. Sadly, many lives were lost during those protests, with nearly 750 farmers reported dead. During the recent protests, the farmers had a list of demands, including a legal guarantee for the Minimum Support Price (MSP) and compensation for damages to their machinery. They criticized the Punjab government for detaining leaders and claimed they were betrayed. Around 45 farmers died during the latest protest. The farmers have made several demands such as waivers on farm loans, pensions for farmers, and the withdrawal of police cases against them. In contrast to the earlier protests, public support has been less widespread. Many city residents were frustrated with road closures caused by the protests, and industries expressed anger towards the state government for not resolving the issues quickly. Attempts to negotiate with the government have not been fruitful. Tensions escalated, leading to confrontations with police, where security forces used tear gas on protesters, resulting in injuries and one death. Farmers are gearing up for more action as they continue to fight for their rights.