Day 225 (sorry for error in day count. At some point I missed a day. Will check and correct but for now this is correct.)

Toll 534+

#KisanSangharsh

Fuel Price Protest

Last night, In Delhi petrol price crossed Rs 100. In Bangalore the price is Rs 103.93. The entire country is reeling from fuel and cooking gas price rise.

Yet, I wonder how many are protesting. Or has it come down to the valiant poor to raise a voice which then the middle-class will appropriate and from which it would benefit?

Picture from Tikri Border

Day 221

Toll 530+

#KisanSangharsh

Parliament

The Kundli Police station, Singhu protest site is 40 kilometers from the Parliament. Tikri is 28 kilometers. Ghazipur is 15 kilometers. Yet, for the last seven months, despite union ministers earlier meeting farmers 11 times between November 26th 2020 and January 11, 2021, the government has perhaps forgotten that a farmers protests continues on the outskirts of Delhi.

That is why, the Samyukt Kisan Morcha has now decided to protest right outside the Parliament. Don’t worry, lakhs of farmers are not yet moving in to Delhi. Token five members per union, a total of 200-250 protesters are going to reach the outskirts of the Parliament from July 22nd until the monsoon session ends.

Remember how the Centre had insulted Tamil Nadu farmers who had also protested in small numbers but heart wrenchingly outside the Parliament from March until October in 2017? Yet, their demands we betrayed by a false promise by the Centre and the state government. You see what happened in the election? AIADMK and BJP lost badly.

One can hope this time the police will not try to stop these representative protest outside the Parliament. On the 17th of July, SKM will send a warning letter to all opposition parties in the country, to ensure that the session is used to support the farmers’ struggle, and that farmers’ demands are met by the government.

The idea is the government is challenged both inside the Parliament by the Opposition and outside by a representative of the lacs of farmers protesting on Delhi borders for the last seven plus months.

Day 220

Toll 530+

#KisanSangharsh*

Stock Limit on Pulses

Given the rising fuel prices – on which Centre can reduce taxes but does not – the prices of all commodities are rising. Middle class household budgets have shaken up. The poor are unable to afford food.
Two days back, the government imposed stock limits on all pulses except moong: millers – last three months of production or 25 per cent of annual installed capacity; wholesalers – 200 tonnes; retailers – 5 tonnes.

This is a welcome step. Applaud.

But, the new Essential Commodities Act, does not allow for it. The new ECA, in section 2, b, ii says: stock limit can be imposed on price rise of fifty per cent in case of non-perishable agricultural foodstuff.

Have the prices on all pulses breached that limit yet? No. Then how has the government imposed the stock limit in contravention to its own new laws?

The government could do that because in December 2020 the Supreme Court had suspended the implementation of the three central farm laws including the new ECA so the previous ECA 1955 still applies. ECA 1955 allows the government to regulate the production, supply, and distribution of a whole host of commodities that it declares ‘essential’ to make them available to consumers at fair prices.

A black market run in pulses is curtailed for now because the old law still holds good. Of course, the prices of perishable agriculture products are still swinging widely between either high because of rarity or distress sale because farmers are unable to transport given high diesel rates and the government has no mechanism to check it.

Now do you see why the farmers are protesting against new laws? Because if implemented, they will wreck havoc not only upon farmers, but the whole of India. Especially, us – the urban consumers.

*Changed tag because Facebook has curtailed views with this tag.

Day 219

Toll 530+

#FarmersProtest

Protest Against Fuel Hike

There have been some enquiries on the Samyukt Kisan Morcha nation-wide call against fuel hike. The reason why SKM has called all sections of Indian society to join the call is that fuel hike concerns us all.

Well, Essential Commodities Act also concerns us but fuel hike is like the Chinese water torture – drop by drop cold water on scalp, in this case relentless paisa by paise increase in prices. Such that while crude prices have nose-dived globally, the Central government taxes have more than doubled the prices between 2014 and 2021 and now in many part of the country we pay over Rs 100 for a litre of petrol.

The chief enquiry that I am getting is: how do citizens join the strike? Normally, SKM passes a statement and then in a few days outlines the plan. So, let us wait to hear from them, I will share. Here is the part of SKM press release which contains the announcement:

‘In a meeting organised by SKM today at Singhu Border and attended by 67 farmers’ organisations, the farmers’ movement has decided to hold nation-wide protests on July 8th (Thursday) against fuel price hikes. The protests will be on the side of roads, between 10am and 12noon on July 8th, without obstructing the traffic, with scooters, motorcycles, tractors, trucks, other vehicles and empty cooking gas cylinders. SKM appeals to people from all walks of life to join the July 8th protests, since the exorbitant prices of fuel in the country are affected all common citizens.’

Form this I derive these protests need to be localised, by neighbourhood groups or even individuals. It is a limited protest for two hours 10 am to 12 am, July 8, next Thursday. All we need is chart paper, perhaps informal banners and stand on our nearby main roads and petrol bunks.

Whatever be the economic rationale of the price hike, its effect on all goods is clear. Our household budgets are in disarray. I also see these hikes as a test of whether we citizens care? Do we even dare to protest the government? Do we have a voice still? Or has relentless bullying worked, have we cowered?

Consider those, reply to the government. Join in.

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)