Can the Farmersâ Protest Be the Beacon for Consolidation of the Polity? The polarisation caused by traditional bases of political and electoral mobilisation means that new methods are required. The farmers' protest has transcended these divisions. Farmers raise slogans at Ghazipur border as they observe a hunger strike on Mahatma Gandhi's death anniversary. Photo: PTI â First they came for the rationalists (Dabholkar, Pansare, Kalburgi), and I did not speak out â because I was not sure I was a rationalist. Then they came for Dalits (Rohith Vermula, Bhima Koregaon), and I did not speak out â because I was not a Dalit.