Punjab police act against farmers due to disunity

Experts have pointed out that the recent police action against farmers in Punjab stems from a lack of broad support for their protests and the annoyance of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. The police crackdown was justified by the government as a response to blockades affecting the state's economy. Disagreements among farmer organizations have stalled unity talks. The main contention lies with the national policy framework for agricultural marketing, which has divided groups, particularly those within the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM). This division has allowed the government to take stronger action, according to insiders. Some farmer groups, notably BKU Ekta Ugrahan, have expressed frustration over the current direction of the protests. Experts believe that farmers need to conduct better planning to effectively advocate for fair Minimum Support Prices (MSP). Farmer leader Azad Palwa stated that without unity, farmer organizations will continue to face harsh treatment from authorities. Government sources indicate that the ongoing protests are not taken as seriously as previous movements. This is attributed to a lack of cooperation among farmers, which contrasts with the solidarity seen in earlier struggles. During those times, various groups came together for a common cause, while the current protest appears to be more focused on individual leaders rather than collective action. A senior farmer leader noted that the visible disunity makes it hard to sustain a successful movement. Without cohesive support among all farming organizations, the chances of pushing back against government actions remain slim.