Day 217

Toll 528+

#FarmersProtest

Ruckus

The Ghazipur protest site is on top of the flyover and below it. The protesters have left one side of the road – Delhi exit – open. Normally traffic moves at high speed on that side of the road, some vehicles slow down to take a closer look at protests.

For the past few days now, on the pretext of welcoming a BJP leader Amit Valmiki, several BJP-RSS workers and supporters have been climbing the road next to the protest stage. They have also raised slogans against the farmers’ movement, calling farmers gaddar, anti national, Khalistani and terrorists. Yesterday, they also beat drums to drown out the stage proceedings and indulged in stone-pelting onto the morcha stage.

There was absolutely no justification to welcome the BJP leader at this location. That too for three days. The BJP did this only to instigate a clash with the protesting farmers. Farmers objected and confronted them with black flags. Farmers insisted on the BJP workers leaving the place. Police remained mute spectators throughout. In the ensuing clash, at least 5 farmers were injured.

The BJP is clearly trying to bring in discord and disturbance by dividing people on caste and religion lines. The allegations of weapons being found, and vehicles being damaged are obviously, political diversionary tactics. A complaint has been lodged by the protesting farmers at the local police station.

Khori village is located on the Faridabad-Delhi border. After an 11-years legal battle, on June 7 the Supreme Court ordered the demolition of thousands of homes and eviction of dwellers with no compensation whatsoever. The SKM decided to conduct a Mahapanchayat at the village yesterday. Before the Mahapanchayat, the police indulged in heavy lathi charged on the resident labour.

Several activists were arrested, beaten and released last night. They are: Rajveer Kaur, Ravinder Singh, Sanjay Maurya, Satya Veer Singh, Sahil Saifi, Lukman and Narendra Singh. SKM is in solidarity with the residents of Khori village and will prevent their eviction.

Yesterday, under the leadership of farmer leader Tajinder Singh Virk, a large number of farmers reached the Bahedi toll of Bareilly district and the toll has been made free.

Posted on June 29, 2021

Day 215

Toll 526+

#FarmersProtest

Not my content but posting it here for posterity. Tomorrow, the protests are going to mark the Hul Adivasi Rebellion, 30 June 1855.

Read to know who are our indigenous people, what the rebellion was about. I learnt so much from it, perhaps you would too. It made me understand how I take my received knowledge of what makes us India and my privileges for granted.

Salute!

—

Tribals have been in the forefront of India’s freedom struggle. Even much before the people of mainland India, tribals started their armed resistance against British colonial rulers in different parts of India. One such important rebellion was the historic Hull rebellion led by tribal heros Sidhhu and Kanu of Shanthal Pragana. Sidhhu, Kanu along with Chand and Bhairab were the four sons of Narayan Majhi of Santal Pragana’s Bhagnadihi village. Kanu was born in the year, 1820. The Rajamahal mountain ranges of Shantal pargana were called as Damine Koh, meaning flying mountains.

Childhood of Sidhhu and Kano passed in acute poverty. From the very beginning they were witness to how the local landlords and money landers with the support of Britishers exploited and looted the Santhals of his area.

Local landlords were keeping tribal people as Dadans to exploit their free labour. They were snatching away their land in different pretexts. Even their women were subject to sexual exploitation.

At that time railway line was being laid in that area. Snatching away the fertile land of tribals for this purpose had created strong resentment among them.

After realizing the need of a protest against this injustice, Kanu first interacted with the local tribal people. People responded to his idea positively and shared their bitter experience and resentment against the feudal landlords along with the Britishers. Kanu and his brothers have organized series of meetings to end this exploitation of Santhals. Big meetings were conducted where thousands of people including non-tribal poor who were also exploited by the landlord-money landers and local British officials participated. They collectively decided to fight against this exploitation and injustice and also to bring it to the notice of British Governor staying at Kolkata. They had an illusion that Governor will solve their problem as the local British officers instead of listening their grievances were supporting the landlord and money lenders.

As per this decision a huge meeting was held near his village Bhagnadihi on 30th June 1855 to start their formal agitation. Thousands of people from four hundred villages of that area participated. Not only Santhals but other exploited people of different non tribal communities participated. Kanu was unanimously selected as the leader and Sidhhu as the deputy leader to lead the agitation. This was the historic day in the history of Santhal pargana area. Later Britishers called this agitation as Santhal Rebellion. Hul in Santhali means Revolutionary appeal and many Santhali Hul Songs became popular then. In that meeting Kanu had given the call of “Chalo Kolkata” to meet the Governor of British and the march started there. This created panic among the local landlords – money landers and British officials. An unsuccessful attempt was made to stop this march under the leadership of Mahesh Daroga who was killed on 7th July at the hands of agitators.

To stop that march of tribals, a huge contingent of British police led by Major Byaroj attacked the people but he was fought back and forced to run away. Very soon people realized that they will not be allowed to march to Kolkatta and so the armed rebellion is the only option. Instead of assembling in big numbers they decided to form small team of armed rebels and started attacking the local landlords and money landers. On 12th July rebels captured the Rajabati or palace of Pakud. That palace had been used as the main camp of Britishers to suppress tribal protest and suppression. Before the rebels reached there all except the women and children fled. Rebels did no harm to them. Only food grains were looted.

Seeing the rising tide of the rebellion, the Britishers sent their army which resorted to large scale repression and harassment of people. This forced Kanu-Sidhhu and their associates to realize that the methods of appeal and application has gone and armed rebellion was the only option to save the Santhals. They gave a call to end the British rule. This political slogan was given consciously.

Soon the rebellion spread through the border districts of Bengal and Jharkhand. Bankura, Birbhum, Murshidabad, Ranigunj area of Burdawan and Asansol became the centres of rebellion. An armed womens wing was also developed under the leadership of Kanu’s wife Phulmani to resist the British forces but all of them were killed by the enemy. It is officially accepted that more than 15,000 rebel farmers, mainly tribals were killed by the British army.

British officials had conspired to capture both Sidhhu and Kanu by engaging spies. For the exchange of money some betrayers had provided information first about Sidhhu and he was captured in 1855. A drama of trying him for his crime was enacted in a British court and hanging order was given. He was soon hanged from a tree by the Britishers in 1855. But his death did not stop the rebellion. Rather it sharpened day by day. More and more landlords and money landers of the area and British were eliminated by surprise attacks of rebels. Britishers knew Kanu was the main leader and rebellion cannot be crushed without capturing or killing him. Finally, he was captured on 30th Nov 1855 and after a trial drama from 14-16 Jan 1856, he was sentenced to death by the British court. On 23 Jan 1856 he was brought to his village and hanged there. This was done only to terrorise the local people.

Sidhhu and Kanu were fearless fighters who had sacrificed their life for the cause of the people. Their rebellion against British colonialists and their native associates like landlords and money landers was a glorious chapter in the history of India. Their rebellion forced the Britishers to enact laws like Chotanagpur Tenancy Act. This struggle continues to inspire the common people particularly the tribals of our country to resist exploitation and assert the right over land and forest resources.

In this context every year 30th June is observed as the Hul Day by the people of Santhal Pragana and bordering districts of Bengal.

Bhalchandra Shadangi
Secretary, AIKMS

Day 213

Toll 523+

#FarmersProtest

19-21

Unni-Ikki they say in Panjab about a small miss. In Hindi it would be Unees-Ikkis ka farak. The history of the world is full of major battles lost due to small misses, for example Agincourt or Waterloo.

Take protests: massive protests before World War I did not prevent the war from taking place. The Farmers Protest in Brussels 2009 with tractors and cows did not move the European Union. The protests in Japan against nuclear Power Plants did not change government opinion and it has recently re-commissioned the Fukushima plant. Pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong have not moved Chinese authorities. Occupy Wall Street, that began in 2011, has informed millions of people about the shocking inequalities but not led to policy change.

All these protests have been valiant, they have our solidarity, some of them are still ongoing, but have been inconclusive in term of results because at some point their leadership could not penetrate the regimes against which they stood. The Farmers Protest in India is in such a phase now.

Yesterday’s ‘Save Agriculture, Save Democracy’ marches show in some states the Governors were even unwilling to accept a letter to the President. While in Uttar Pradesh and Bengal the people demonstrated and the Governor accepted the letters, in Karnataka where we have a chief minister whose lifelong claim is he is pro-farmers, the police unnecessarily stopped the protesters. In Delhi, Rakesh Tikait had to go live in the evening and then the Lieutenant Governor accepted the letter virtually.

Yet, the worst was in Chandigarh, capital to Haryana and Panjab. What were all those barricades about? Why did the farmers from the two states have to break barricades from two ends of town – Panchkula and Mohali? Why is the government so scared?

The reason to submit the letter to the Governor shows that since the elected national government has discredited itself by not talking to farmers for five long months, but we are still a democracy and the Governor to President is a valid channel to approach, the farmers had decided to approach the Governors. Why then did the Governors and police stop the farmers from approaching? Is it because City Beautiful will be spoilt by rural India coming into it?

Yet, the farmers braved water canons, broke barricades, proceeded to meet the Governors. Despite thousands of farmers and police, though there were small skirmishes, there was no major violence. Yet, what transpired on the Panjab side at the Sector 9-17 crossing between Samyukt Kisan Morcha leaders and Chandigarh SSP Kuldeep Singh Chahal was revealing.

SKM leaders were pushing to move ahead on the remaining 2.5 kilometres to the Governor’s House. The SSP said, ‘Some of your cadre has gone ahead, call them back…’

SKM said, ‘No, no, they are just youth. They are not with us.’

SSP said, ‘How can you say that? They have come with you, they came on your call. Call them back, get together, we shall make provision for a delegation to meet the Governor.’

The situation was getting aggressive. The SSP remained calm but SKM was unable to call the protesters back. Finally, in a hurry, Rajewal stood on top of a car with letter in hand, showed it to all gathered. Then he handed over the letter to the SSP. Similarly, Haryana farmers also handed the letter to the Deputy Commissioner of Chandigarh Mandeep Singh Brar.

All this drama, the thousands who reached the venues, the barricades that were broken, the march of the people, just to hand over the letter to the SSP and DC?

Kabir, the Bhakti poet, concludes a song on meditation by saying: jeet nishan ghuraunga – I shall spin victory on its mark. This not being able to hand the letter to the Governors is the unni-ikki difference, the small lapse. It marks how the SKM leaders approach the protests: the disowning youth ‘not with us’ is a standard feature now since the incidents of January 26th.

The reason behind this is the divide in Panjab between what is generally called the Left vs Sikh factions. The divide is more in the mind, more in discourses and labels, than on ground. But it persists.

As the protests strengthen once again, as UP and Panjab elections approach near, the SKM must resolve these differences proactively and make sure it achieves what it sets out to do in each event it outlines. In this case, handing letters to Governors. Notice, SKM launched its march to Chandigarh yesterday from Gurdwaras Nada Sahib and Amb Sahib. Else any SSP or the state will ask: the youth came with you, came on your call, how can you say they are not with you?

The disowning approach has to stop. Only then will the SKM be able to spin victories on the mark. Only then will unni-ikki be resolved. The vision has to be 20/20.

Posted on June 25, 2021

Toll 520+

#FarmersProtest

Ghazipur Festival of Democracy

Last night was a festival of democracy at Ghazipur border. Thousands of farmers, including women from Haryana, have arrived from Muzaffarnagar, Meerut, Saharanpur and other places. Enroute, the advancing farmers made the Uttar Pradesh toll plazas free.

‘We had asked you to turn the tractors towards Delhi. But look at you, you have reached Delhi!’

On the 46th anniversary of imposition of Emergency, the farmers are marking the day as the ‘Save Agriculture, Save Democracy’. The gatherings to gherao the Governors are taking place at every state capital today at 11.30 am. Chandigarh has sealed 13 entries into the city. Oh my! How silly can the government act!

Also see Tikait interview in first comment where he says, ‘But where is the government? The government has disappeared since January 22nd.’

I agree, as we saw even during the pandemic second wave and now when government says Delhi exaggerated the demand for Oxygen by 4 times. Not even an acknowledgement of the tragedy, the deaths.

Posted on June 25, 2021

Day 211

Toll 520+

#FarmersProtest

Text of the open letter to be submitted to Governors of all States and Union Territories tomorrow, June 26th which the by Samyukt Kisan Morcha is marking as the ‘Save Agriculture, Save Democracy’ day.

—————–

Memorandum to the President about Farmers’ Anguish and Indignation

Date: 26th June 2021

Shri Ramnath Kovind
President, Republic of India
Rashtrapati Bhawan
New Delhi.

Through: Hon’ble Governor, _____ State/Union Territory

Sub: Save Agriculture, Save Democracy – Regarding getting 3 anti-farmer laws repealed, and to get a legal guarantee of MSP for farmers

Respected Sir,

We, the farmers of India, are writing this letter to you, the head of the nation, with deep anguish and indignation. Today on 26th June, upon the completion of seven months of our continuous protests at Delhi’s borders, and on the 47th anniversary of Emergency in this country, we are writing to you from all parts of India about the twin challenge of saving our agriculture and saving our democracy.

The Indian society calls us farmers as Annadaatas. In the past 74 years, we put in a lot of hard work as always, and did not leave any stone unturned to make sure that we fulfil our responsibility. When India became independent, we used to feed 33 crore citizens in the country; today, in about the same extent of land, we manage to feed around 140 crore Indians. During the Coronavirus Pandemic, while the other sectors in the economy decelerated and slumped, we achieved record production in agriculture, ensured that our granaries were over-flowing and did so risking our own lives.

However, in return for this kind of service that we provided to the entire country, the Government of India which runs on your seal of assent, thrust on us three anti-farmer black laws which will destroy our farming as well as our future generations, laws that will snatch agriculture from our hands and hand over to big corporations. Moreover, other swords were also hung on our heads – penalties and jail terms for stubble burning in a new ordinance related to Delhi’s air pollution, and subsidy withdrawal through the Electricity Amendments Bill 2020.

The three central farm laws are unconstitutional, because the Union Government has no authority to make legislation in the area of (agricultural) Markets. These legislations are also undemocratic. Before creating such laws, no consultations and dialogues were held with farmers. Without being asked for and without proper reason, these were brought in covertly in the form of Ordinances. The Bills after being tabled in the Parliament were not sent to Committees for further study and debates. While pushing these Bills in the Parliament, voting by division was not allowed in Rajya Sabha. We had hoped that as the first guardian of our Constitution created by Babasaheb and others, you would refuse to give your assent to such unconstitutional, undemocratic and anti-farmer laws. However, you did not refuse.

You are aware that we are not asking for any charity from the government; we are only asking for just and remunerative returns for our hard work and toil. Because of the enormous exploitation and looting that is done of farmers when it comes to prices for our produce, farming has become an unviable profession for us. We are in deep debt, and in the past 30 years, more than 4 lakh farmers were compelled to take their own lives in a continuing spate of farm suicides. That is the reason why we are demanding that the Minimum Support Price (MSP) has to be fixed using the Swaminathan Commission formula of C2 cost+50%, and that such an MSP has to be guaranteed for all farmers in a legal framework. Instead of fulfilling its promises and commitments on this front, the Government of India started a false jumla around ‘doubling farmers’ incomes by 2022’ which is clearly not being achieved, and made you state the same in your speeches, bringing down the dignity of your esteemed position.

Respected Sir, in the past seven months, to destroy the farmers’ agitation, the Government of India broke the principles and rules of democracy in every possible way. To welcome farmers who were moving towards the nation’s capital to get their grievances and demands heard and addressed, this government put boulders, sand trucks, barbed fencing and barricades in our way. It dug trenches on the roads and put in nails on the highways. It tear-gassed farmers, water-cannoned them and slapped false cases on them. Several were sent to jail. Instead of listening to the mann ki baat of farmers, the government only listened to the lure of staying in power. Dishonest and fake conversations and dialogues were held. The agitation was sought to be destroyed through non-existent farmer unions. The protesting farmers were sometimes labelled as agents, sometimes as terrorists, at other times as Khalistanis or Parasites or Corona Super-spreaders. By manipulating media, there were constant attempts at defaming and denigrating the movement. Those who were raising their voices in support of farmers found that the government was placing curbs on social media to stifle their voices and to even lodge cases against them. Around 520 of our protestors have been martyred so far. Sir, you would have seen and heard about all these things, but you had remained a mute spectator.

In the past seven months, what we witnessed and experienced first hand reminds us of the Emergency period 46 years ago. Today, it is not just the farmers’ movement that is facing repression, but the movements of workers, youth & students, women, minority communities, dalits as well as Adivasis. As in the time of the Emergency back then, many true patriots have been put into prisons. Draconian laws like UAPA are being misused against ones who are resisting the authoritarian regime. Media is shrouded in fear and favouritism. Judiciary’s freedom is under attack. Human rights are being violated routinely. Without declaring an Emergency, democracy is being throttled every day. In this context, as the main custodian of our constitutional framework, there is a great responsibility on you, President Sir.

Against this background, today, through this memorandum being submitted to you, we bring to you the anguish and deep anger of crores of farming families of the country. We hope that you will direct the Union Government to immediately accept the legitimate demands of the farmers’ movement, repeal the three anti-farmer laws and to enact a law that will guarantee remunerative MSP at C2+50% for all farmers.

Respected President Sir, the historical farmers’ movement being led by Samyukt Kisan Morcha is not only a movement to save farming and farmers of the country, but also democracy of our country. We hope that in this sacred mission of ours, we will get your full support because you had taken an oath which is not about saving the government, but an oath to save the Constitution of India.

Jai Kisan, Jai Hind!

We, the People of India, Ones who Feed the Nation and Keep Everyone Alive, the Annadaatas:

….……………………………………………………
..……………………………………………………..
..……………………………………………………..
..……………………………………………………..
..……………………………………………………..

(Samyukt Kisan Morcha)

Day 210

Toll 520+

#FarmersProtest

Tank, Tractor, Twitter

Last few days, Rakesh Tikait, did a Modi on the media when he uttered the triple Ts: Tank, Tractor, Twitter. Given his own surname starting with T, it becomes four Ts. I have been hearing him say this since he was touring Gujarat in April but our duh! lapdog media. They wake up now as Uttar Pradesh state elections are nearing.

In all his statements, Tikait is clear that the farmers will challenge the BJP in at least west Uttar Pradesh and try to enhance their reach all over the state. They will not be contesting elections but will make their anguish against BJP – its betrayal to the farmer’s issues, causing economy to fail, lies on employment, mis-management of COVID-19 – heard across the state. The Opposition parties need to wake up to the opportunity. Similarly, the AAP rumour about Balbir Singh Rajewal as Panjab CM candidate is completely unfounded.

Tikait is also quite clear: the protests will last until the government repeals the Farm Laws and legalises MSP. If that takes up to 2024, then so be it. The farmers will continue to maintain pressure. Like at Singhu and Tikri, thousands of farmers have started arriving at Ghazipur border. They are doing so as per the area and date wise roster attached.

At Tikri, considering the damage past storms and rains have wreaked on the state at the Ghadri Gulab Kaur Nagar, BKU Ekta Ugrahan is now building a strong roof and pillar structure. The enclosed area will be 10,000 square feet. It will protect them from the heat hovering around 43-degree Celsius and the monsoon rains.

Pictures: Kisan Ekta Morcha and BKU Ekta Ugrahan, see here…

Day 209

Toll 520+

#FarmersProtest

Rana ji

Even I am bored of calling out the government’s apathy but there are stories from the protest that must be recorded for posterity. I just try to record some of the thousands of stories transpiring every day – stories of solidarity and resistance.

The latest is government harassing a dhaba owner who has been supporting the protests since they began. Ram Singh Rana ji has two dhaba’s, both by the name Golden Hut on National Highway 44. One is at Sonipat another at Kurukshetra. Both are very popular with travellers, especially Panjabis going to the Delhi airport.

When protests started, Rana ji turned his Sonipat dhaba into a free service centre. He started langar of water, milk and 25 kg wheat flour packets free to protesters. This free langar to protesters has been critical through the past seven months and has been possible by Rana foregoing huge profits.

For some weeks now the government has been issuing notices to Rana over his social service. The services continued unabated. The day before the government blocked access to Rana’s dhaba in Kurukshetra by placing stones barriers. Golden Hut, Kurukshetra has been Rana’s only source of income last few months.

What does this tell us about the government? That even those doing social service will be prosecuted. This has happened earlier with individuals, arthiyas, farmer leaders who have been booked under various charges. The government, elected to serve the people cannot even talk to protesters but is blocking even those from our society who serve society – who perform sewa.

The farmers stand with Ram Singh Rana. They will stand by all those who have stood by them in the past seven months. The police says it will close all the dhabas on the highway. If the government does that, all hotel and dhaba owners will protest.

As of now, only Rana’s dhaba has been blocked, Rana seems to be singled out for performing sewa. BKU leader Balbir Singh Chaduni leader has announced the Samyukt Kisan Morcha KM look into the matter and if the government does not remove the blockades, the farmers will remove them. No one can stop sewa.

Update: SKM leaders met at Golden Hut dhaba and have issued a notice to government and NHAI to remove barricades (white stones in picture) by July 2, else the farmers will take strict action such as blocking the whole highway, jamming the traffic.

Day 208

Toll 518+

#FarmersProtest

Deewar

Across the wall of government apathy around the farmers protest, stand the central leadership and the farmers. They do not dialogue because the elected leaders have not talked for 5 months.

Leader: I am just a phone call away. You do not know how the path you have chosen to walk on will end.

Farmers: we know our path could end in our loss but the path you have chosen will certainly harm all of us.

Leader: I am a fakir. I have played my game. I do not care if I lose or win. But you have time, you have other options, try something else.

Farmer: No, our principles, our rules of engagement do not permit us to walk away.

Leader: Uff! Your principles! What use are your principles? You sit in cold, you stand in rain, you suffer in heat and storms. What have your principles given you? A small land holding, so much loan…

Look at me, look. This is me, that is you. We started together: I selling tea, you farming land. See where you are left behind, see where I have reached. Today I have the army, the police, the courts, the corporates, the banks, the parliament, the policies, what do you have?

Farmer: we have courage, resolve and food.

(adapted from movie Deewar)

Note: Along with 50 trolleys of wheat that reached Singhu yesterday, since young men had to go back for paddy sowing, thousands of elderly have reached Tikri today. The game the fakir has played is on.

Day 207

Toll 518+

#FarmersProtest

Petty Tricks

The protest site at Singhu, police station Kundali, is on national highway 44. For the last seven months now, the site has forced traffic to Delhi to take alternate routes to come and get out of Delhi. One such crossing on the alternate route also crosses through the protest site which itself extends 7+ kilometers to Badh Khlasa and beyond.

The habitations next to the road comprise shopkeepers, businesses and labour settlements for there are many factories along the road. These folks, through directly impacted by the protest have never really had cause to complain. The reason is the protesters take their consent for their activities, have been running langars where the neighbours join, have even been running makeshift schools for children from the settlements.

During recent COVID19 second wave, farmers provided oxygen and medicines to their neighbours. When government struck down Internet, the neighbours put up their WiFi networks passwords for free use. It is a symbiotic relationship.

But that can’t be said for the villages at a short distance from the main road. Though many of those villagers have helped the protests with unending supply of milk and fresh vegetables, there are also groups in those villages which the right-wing plays against the protesters.

One such gathering took place yesterday at Sersa village. The mahapanchayat was held under the banner of Rashtrwadi Ekta Manch. They have now projected that they are distressed by the protests, especially the blocked road, and have demanded one side of the road be opened. During the recent COVID19 crises, to enable oxygen supply, the protesters had opened one side of the road.

Whether the two sides – so called distressed villagers and the Samyukt Kisan Morcha – reach an agreement or not is yet to be seen, one aspect is absolutely clear: the government is not interested in talks with the SKM. The government is trying every petty trick to keep attacking the protest but will not do that one thing to end the protests – talk.

My hunch is, these propped up protesters will not be able to match the stamina and resilience of the farmers on protests. They will tire soon. Yesterday, some farmers protesting against CM Khattar in Morni, Panchkula were arrested and released by evening. Just another tactic to wear out the protesters instead of talking to them or repealing the Laws. What a pathetic display of arrogance and inversion of democracy.