it “unprecedented in numbers and also qualitatively different from other demonstrations.” In the end the editorial said, ‘Half a century ago Sir Chhotu Ram roused the farmers of the Punjab of that time to a sense of wrong at the hands of the moneylender and the consumer of agricultural products. This resulted in a major revolution in thought and a re-evaluation of roles. Mr. Sharad Joshi is using a much bigger platform to propagate his philosophy of social equality and economic justice. His campaign could well become an important determining factor in shaping the country’s political scenario, especially on eve of the general elections for Parliament and several State Assemblies.’ In the Indian Express issue of 20 March, underlining the political significance of this agitation, journalist Devinder Sharma wrote in his lead article, ‘That the Bharatiya Kisan Union has emerged as a major force to reckon within Punjab becomes evident from the manner in which the Akali Dal felt perturbed over the massive show of strength. Since the BKU had politically turned down Akali Dal’s offer of support, the Dal had to issue a statement supporting the farmers’ movement “unilaterally”. Whether the farmers’ movement has eroded the Akali rural base is still not clear but it is certain that the State’s peasantry is more concerned about their own economic problems than the political and religious demands. The farmers’ leaders, unlike politicians, stayed along with the farmers during the picketing of Raj Bhavan. This itself is enough to seek mass support from the ruralites. Most of those who camped at Chandigarh were young farmers and not the old generation which participated in the Akali morcha. “The Akalis are fighting the dharam yudh and we are waging a karam yudh”, said a young farmer aptly summing up the difference in approach.’ Sharma in his article also admired the peaceful nature of the Joshi in Punjab
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