In a development that has set alarm bells ringing in political circles, the Bharatiya Kisan Sangh (BKS) — the farmers’ wing affiliated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) — has stepped up protests across the country against deepening distress in the farm sector.
The significance of the agitation lies in who is leading it. The BKS is ideologically aligned with the ruling BJP, and its decision to take to the streets is being read as a sign that anger over farm distress is now spilling into the party’s own core support base.
According to reports, BKS workers have been staging demonstrations and submitting memorandums at district collectorates, flagging issues such as falling crop prices, rising input costs and inadequate procurement. The protests follow what farmer leaders describe as a “meltdown” in farm incomes.
The agitation gained momentum late last month and has continued into October, with local units organising sit-ins and marches in several states. In Uttar Pradesh, BKS workers staged a protest at the collectorate, demanding urgent relief measures for farmers.
Farmer distress has been building through 2026. While the government released the 23rd installment of the PM-KISAN scheme earlier this year, putting ₹2,000 into the accounts of eligible farmers, farm leaders say the support is dwarfed by the surge in the cost of diesel, fertilisers, seeds and pesticides.
The protests also come against the backdrop of India’s trade negotiations, with farmer organisations across the spectrum warning against opening up the agriculture and dairy sectors to foreign competition. The BKS has historically opposed moves it sees as threatening the livelihood of small and marginal farmers, who make up the bulk of Indian agriculture.
Political observers say the optics of an RSS-backed outfit protesting are uncomfortable for the government, which has long counted farmers among its key constituencies. Opposition parties have seized on the development, arguing it vindicates their claim that the farm crisis is deepening despite official assurances.
The government, for its part, points to record foodgrain output, higher minimum support prices for several crops and expanded procurement as evidence of its pro-farmer record. It has also promised the next PM-KISAN installment ahead of Diwali in several states.
Whether the BKS agitation escalates into a larger movement will depend on how the government responds in the coming weeks. For now, the sight of farmers marching to collectorates under the banner of an RSS-affiliated outfit is a message New Delhi can ill afford to ignore.
