Kisan Andolan

Kisan Andolan refers to the farmers' protest movement in India that gained significant momentum in 2020-2021. The movement, primarily involving farmers from the states of Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh, was in response to three agricultural laws passed by the Indian government in September 2020. These laws were aimed at liberalizing the agricultural sector by allowing farmers to sell their produce outside the government-regulated markets, known as mandis, and to enter into contracts with private buyers.

The protesting farmers argued that these laws would dismantle the minimum support price (MSP) system, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation by large corporations. They feared that the new laws would lead to the privatization of agriculture and a loss of their livelihoods. The protest saw thousands of farmers camping at the borders of Delhi, enduring harsh weather conditions and facing significant challenges while demanding the repeal of the laws.

The Kisan Andolan garnered widespread national and international attention, with solidarity demonstrations occurring in various parts of India and among the Indian diaspora abroad. The protests were marked by large-scale rallies, tractor parades, and several rounds of negotiations between farmer unions and the government, which ultimately failed to resolve the impasse.

In November 2021, after nearly a year of sustained protests, the Indian government announced that it would repeal the three controversial farm laws, marking a significant victory for the protesting farmers. The Kisan Andolan is seen as one of the most significant mass movements in recent Indian history, highlighting the issues faced by the agricultural community and raising important questions about the future of farming in India.

In February 2021, BOOM investigated a viral image that was claimed to show a tractor rally in Germany organized to support Indian farmers during the Kisan Andolan.

BOOM found that the image was actually from 2019 and was unrelated to the Indian farmers' protest. The image was misleadingly shared as part of the narrative surrounding international solidarity with the Kisan Andolan.