Question

Which of the following statements are correct in respect of New Farmer's Movement:-
(A) It began in Punjab and Tamil Nadu.
(B) It was party oriented.
(C) Ideology was anti-state and anti-urban.
(D) The focus of demand was price and its related issues.
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

• A. (A), (B) and (D) only
• B. (A), (B) and (C) only
• C. (A), (C) and (D) only
• D. (B), (C) and (D) only

Hint:

When analyzing social movements, pay attention to their origin, leadership, ideology, key demands, and relationship with mainstream politics. This helps differentiate between various movements, like the 'old' peasant movements (focused on land reform and abolition of feudalism) and the 'new' farmers' movements (focused on prices and terms of trade).

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Concept Definition:
The "New Farmer's Movements" signify a series of farmer agitations in India during the late 1970s and 1980s. Unlike earlier peasant struggles, these movements were led by farmers focused on market dynamics, specifically the middle and affluent agrarian population.
Step 2: Statement Evaluation:
Let's analyze each statement:
(A) Origin in Punjab and Tamil Nadu: Accurate. Significant support for the movement came from organizations like the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) in Punjab and Western UP, the Tamilaga Vivasayigal Sangam in Tamil Nadu, and the Shetkari Sanghatana in Maharashtra, which were instrumental in this new wave of agitations.
(B) Party-Centric: Inaccurate. A key characteristic of the New Farmer's Movements was their declared independence from political parties. They actively remained non-partisan, often excluding politicians from their platforms, believing that political parties did not adequately represent their interests.
(C) Anti-State and Anti-Urban Ideology: Accurate. These movements frequently promoted an ideology that contrasted the interests of the agrarian, rural sector ("Bharat") with the industrial, urban sector ("India"). They contended that state policies favored the urban-industrial complex at the expense of agriculture.
(D) Focus on Price and Related Issues: Accurate. The core demands of these movements were economic. They concentrated on "terms of trade" concerns, advocating for remunerative prices for agricultural products, subsidies for inputs (such as fertilizer and electricity), loan waivers, and farmer pensions.
Step 3: Conclusion:
Statements (A), (C), and (D) accurately describe the New Farmer's Movements, whereas statement (B) is incorrect. Consequently, option (3) is the correct choice.