Day 62
#FarmersMarch
Test of the Republic.
Today is indeed a historic day. The question is: will the history that will be written today the same as of last 73 years or will it be a day the nation recognises itself as it citizens and not just its government. For context, the Independence Day that we all celebrate every year, draws a lump to Panjab’s throat (and I assume Bengal’s). We do not say it, yet our hearts break. For the day the nation considers itself free from foreign British rule, is the day that marks the loss of over 1 million of our lives, 14 million displacements in east and west of India – the Partition.
India’s birth was indeed bloody.
Similarly, today the farmers are marching to assert their right to celebrate the Constitution. They are asserting their presence in the making of the nation but are clear that they are not interfering with how the nation celebrates it through a parade of military might. We have been hearing about these intended celebrations since January 2. On January 17 the route was declared by the Samyukt Kisan Morcha – Delhi’s Outer Ring Road.
Yet, suddenly, three days back, the SKM agreed to a route which surprised us all – on the outskirts of Delhi. Given how peaceful the protest has been last 62 days, in fact 100 days in Panjab, we all fell in line in the larger, greater good. Yet the nagging question did not leave our minds: why? Why the compromise? Are we not in Delhi to challenge the government? to push for complete repeal of Farm Laws, the Republic day, though symbolic, is similar? In any case any nearest point from Outer Ring Road to Rajpath is 17 kms. What possible disturbance can the farmers Tractor March cause? I do not get the middle path argument. When government knows its Laws are wrong, it would be dignified to take them back. When government recognises its citizens are important, it would not interfere in their freedoms to celebrate the Republic Day.
Since the day before, and through a speech yesterday, one Union from Panjab, not part of SKM, but which has been operating independently, is part of 41 negotiators with the government, has asked this question openly and declared they will march on the Outer Ring Road.
The Majha based Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee declared they will march independently on the pre-declared, by SKM, Delhi’s Outer Ring Road. They gave an open call to everyone to join. Those who wish to demonstrate they are here to assert their right as citizens of the nation and those who wish to keep seeking compromises with the government.
KMSC leader Satnam Singh Pannu emphasised that these compromises in the ‘interests of the nation’ have never benefitted the farmers, the rural, the real India. He said the anger in farmers is against decades of mal-governance by multiple governments, right from the time of Independence, now harvested by Modi through the Black Farm Laws.
The place where the two marches – SKM and KMSC – will diverge and possible conflict could happen between the police and KMSC is 10 kms from Singhu, at Sanjay Gandhi Transport Nagar – Mubarka Chowk. This is where national highway 44 touches the Outer Ring Road. Here SKM wants the March to proceed rightwards towards Bawana, outside Delhi. KSMC will ask its union and those who act on their call to turn leftwards towards Azadpur/ISBT, into Delhi. Last night, police reinforced this site: dug trenches, erect barricades.
KMSC has declared their march will be peaceful and disciplined and if the state exerts violence, they will not retaliate. Instead, they will take the blows or bullets, lay down their lives but those killings will reveal the government’s real intention behind the Black Laws – that the government is anti-people.
KMSC has started its march at 8 am. In some minutes from now, KMSC will reach Mubarka Chowk. They are ahead of the Singhu/SKM’s Tractor March. If the police blocks them, exerts violence, there will be crowding and SKM folks too will not be able to go on their planned route.
Let us see if the nation considers its farmers its honourable citizens or exerts violence. If today remains peaceful, I will wish all the Republic Day. Else, I will agree, with what Panjab has deeply sensed for decades: ‘we are the food producing colony of India’.