Day 262

Toll 565

Tiranga

Given all that happened on January 26th, the near spontaneous outburst of emotion on part of farmers, their desire to celebrate the Republic Day in Delhi and how the government created distraction, tried to use the events to smear the farmers, August 15 is obviously another important day on the calendar.

For months now, farmers have been opposing BJP programs in Haryana. Arrests have happened in Tohana, Hisar, Sirsa, Ambala and farmers have prevailed upon authorities to free their protestors – once even through an extreme hunger strike until death. The slogan Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan is anyway on the lips of all farmers.

Knowing this, the Haryana BJP tried a tactic with Independence Day coming up – Tiranga Yatra. The Yatra was to take place on tractors in all districts of Haryana. The BJP reckoned that since farmers are opposing them, they will oppose the Tiranga Yatra as well. That is how BJP sought to malign the farmers once again in the name of the nation – dub them anti-national.

However, the farmers saw through the game. They decided not to oppose the Tiranga Yatra. They argued that the Tiranga/Tri-colour belongs as much to them as to the BJP. It is a different matter that BJP actually insults the Tiranga, is hell-bent on selling off the country, and the farmers intend to save the country. The BJP’s Tiranga Yatra failed, last heard going rate was Rs 2000 to participate in it for one day. Neither farmers, not villagers from Haryana bought into that.

Now the Samyukt Kisan Morcha has decided not to oppose any August 15 celebration by the BJP. In fact, until August 15, SKM will not disturb any program that fronts the Tri-colour.

Now when the government has barricaded the Red Fort with cemented shipping containers to create a perception of assault by farmers, even hidden the Red Fort from certain angles, the SKM has decided not to enter Delhi at all. The farmers will carry out their own celebrations and at village, block and tehsil carry out marches all over India under the banner Kisan Mazdoor Azadi Sangram March – Farmer Labour Freedom Struggle March. After all, this is a second call for independence, this time from crony capitalists and compromised governments.

Wish you a Happy Independence Day!