The sword-wielding mobs rushing towards the Delhi Police force, attempts to ram tractors into barricades, hoisting the ‘Khalsa’ flag at the Red Fort and a clip of a man seen throwing away the tricolour are enough reasons for the Narendra Modi government to call off the talks with the protesting farmers and implement the three farm laws without changing even a word in them.
After the shameful incidents on Republic Day, if the Modi government still considers handling these hooligans with kid gloves, then there must be something terribly wrong with its understanding of the situation. There can be no negotiation with Khalistani extremists masquerading as kisan leaders and indulging in vandalism. Holding talks with hooligans and withdrawing the laws will amount to surrendering before the anarchists.
Some of those who tried to lead the agitation, such as Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Thakur Bhanu Pratap Singh, have reportedly withdrawn from the agitation. More are likely to follow suit and weaken the protests, which eventually may dissipate.
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The intentions are clear now
The tractor rally, organised by the so-called protesting farmers, has gone wrong beyond tolerable limits. Announcing the ‘Republic Day’ counter rally, a former Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and psephologist claimed that the “barricades will open” and the farmers will enter Delhi and hold an unprecedented parallel Republic Day parade. He made this claim on the basis of negotiations with the Delhi Police, which remains unverified. However, his promise of the rally being peaceful was not kept. Social media is full of visuals of at least half-a-dozen ‘kisan leaders’ openly challenging the government to stop them.
It was very clear from the time the tractor rally was announced that the ‘event’ will be anything but peaceful. This happens to be one of the most shameful episodes of Independent India when the official Republic Day parade was overshadowed by violence by hooligans led by wannabe political leaders who could otherwise do nothing but pontificate during prime time television debates.
The merits and demerits of the three farm laws are no longer an issue. The intent of the protesters is very clear now. All they want is to create chaos, hog the limelight and form an anti-BJP platform. These so-called leaders are far from being kisan leaders. It is no longer about the interests of farmers.
The 26 January incidents should be seen as nothing short of Khalistani extremism and an attempt to revive its sleeper cells. Going by the visuals and the attempts to project the farmers’ protest as a Sikh (religious) protest against the BJP-led central government, it appears to be part of a dangerous game plan. The pro-Khalistan elements attempted to internationalise their movement through ‘Referendum 2020’, which evoked no response in India, especially in Punjab, and very little response elsewhere like the UK or Canada. Their groups in those countries could not muster the required numbers. The entire gambit to brew trouble in Punjab was probably shelved, albeit temporarily, due to the Covid-19 pandemic. It appears that the strategy to infiltrate the farmers’ protest and hijack it to be used as a movement against India was a well-thought-out conspiracy.
Also read: Why the farmers’ movement is no longer what the Modi govt thinks it is
Time for protesters to call it quits
Another feature of the ongoing agitation is the political aspect like attempts to regroup farmers through outfits like the Bharatiya Kisan Union. Many of these farmers’ unions are affiliated to the CPI, CPM, Shiromani Akali Dal and the Congress. Strangely, many of those at the forefront of the agitation are not even real farmers.
The so-called kisan leaders should realise their folly and call it quits. Their intention, too, seems to be very similar to the one that the pro-Khalistan elements adopted. These overnight leaders and fly-by-night operators wanted to piggy ride on the farmers’ issue, which anyway remained more or less confined to a small group in Punjab.
The Modi government did try to meet the farmers’ demand and showed signs of reconsidering some of the provisions in the three laws that constitute significant reforms in the agriculture sector. Even the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) had suggested that a middle path should be found to end the protest. The RSS, with its close-knit organisation and ear to the ground, could probably visualise the protests turning violent and getting hijacked by ‘anti-national’ elements.
Most of those, especially the political parties opposing the farm laws and calling it a sell-out to big corporate houses, were themselves in favour of such laws. According to a report, the Congress party’s 2019 manifesto had promised a number of reforms in the agriculture sector that the three laws have enshrined in them. There is an urgent need on the part of the opposition, especially the Congress, to revisit history and desist from stoking the communal fire.
Also read: ‘We had intelligence, knew intention, but allowed rally in good faith’ — Delhi Police chief
Road ahead for the BJP
Needless to say, on its part, the BJP, with all its cadre strength, will be wasting its time and energy if it does not fan out to the rural areas and reach out to the farmers. The Modi government needs to also address the perception that rich farmers and corporate entities will laugh their way to the bank while the poor and marginal farmers with small land holding will suffer if the farm laws are implemented.
The distress in the agriculture sector is real. Input costs have gone up while the income remains constant or dwindles. It will be wise on the part of the government to tackle the situation before it gets too serious and complicated. The 2021 Budget can be a starting point to address the agrarian distress in the short run. As John Maynard Keynes said, “In the long run, we are all dead.”
Seshadri Chari is the former editor of ‘Organiser’. Views are personal.