E. New Farmers Movement

♤ The farmer’s movements burst onto the National political stage in 1980 with the road and rail roko agitation in Nasik, Maharashtra led by the Shetkari Sangathana of Sharad Joshi.

♤ Sharad Joshi articulated the ideology of the movement in terms of India V/s Bharat, industrial V/s rural.

♤ In 1986, in Muzaffarnagar, U.P. Mahendra Singh Tikait, presided over a gathering of lakhs of villagers before which the CM of UP had been forced to appear in person to announce his acceptance of their demand for reduction of electricity charges to the old level.

♤ In the 1980's emerged widespread grassroots mobilization of rural dwellers like in Tamil Nadu led by Viva Sayigal Sangam, the Rajya Ryothu Sangha, Karnataka, Bhartiya Kisan Union Punjab and Haryana; Khedut Samaj and Kisan Sangh in Gujarat and the Shetkari Sangathana in Maharashtra.

♤ These above mentioned New Farmers Movement especially in 1980s have attracted much