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A Month on, Farmers Remain Resolute Over Repeal of Farm Laws
Pawanjot Kaur
The farmers’ ‘Dilli Chalo’ movement will complete a month on December 26, 2020. What started at the village block level, mainly in Punjab, has panned out across the country and Indian embassies, and foreign parliaments.
At the completion of 30 days, the gridlock over the farmers’ demands remains. The Centre sent a fresh invitation to the agitating farmers on December 23. In a press conference held on the same day, protesting farmers responded and said that they are ready to meet the government but only if it does not propose the same amendments which the farmers have already argued against point-by-point.
To get the government to look into the demands with seriousness, the only option left with those agitating is to resort to “pressure tactics”. The farmers’ union, especially from Punjab, have proved to be quite good at it.
The latest “pressure tactic” involves requesting the Punjab-origin British members of parliament to write to UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson to not attend the Indian Republic Day ceremony on January 26 – the invitation to which he has accepted already.
In addition to this, at least five borders around New Delhi – Singhu, Tikri, Ghazipur, Delhi-Jaipur Shahjahanpur and the Delhi-Agra Palwal, are swelling up each day as farmers make their way from Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Haryana and Punjab.
Pratibha Shinde, activist and general secretary of the Lok Sangharsh Morcha, who is at the Shahjahanpur border, with thousands of protestors told The Wire over the phone that over 3,000 farmers and labourers from Maharashtra are on their way too. “A vehicular march with 1,000 vehicles with almost 3,000 kisans is on its way,” she said. Meanwhile, a large crowd of farmers from, mainly, Madhya Pradesh has occupied the Delhi-Agra Palwal border.
Those at borders other than Singhu and Tikri are slowly gaining momentum in terms of numbers, resources like food, water and sanitation, and even media attention. Although Punjab’s farmers have shown the way to the others, Shinde said that for many coming from Maharashtra in the biting north-Indian winter is a rare experience. “It will be a challenge for us,” she added.
Even as lakhs of agitating farmers, under the banners of at least a hundred farmers, labourers and student unions have gheraoed Delhi from five sides, the government, earlier this month, said that at least 10 farmers’ unions under the banner of All India Kisan Coordination Committee (AIKCC) submitted a signed acceptance to the amendments proposed by them.
But the farmers’ unions at the forefront of this agitation said that AIKCC was never a part of the agitation – which means they were satisfied with the laws in the first place and have accepted the amendments made to it too.
Those agitating against the farm laws said that the ball is in the government’s court and it can choose to play the game with seriousness or keep sitting on it. Either way, the stamina on the side of the farmers is enough to keep them going, they said.
The last one month, and for Punjabi farmers, the last four months, were full of hurdles – the lack of media attention on the subject of agriculture, the coronavirus pandemic, state surveillance on farmers’ leaders, fake news propaganda and a general apathy of the current government towards those resisting its dictum.
Yet, they have overcome each hurdle with organisational capacity and grit. The government still has the option to emerge smartly, and in good faith to end the gridlock.
(Article courtesy: The Wire.)
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Farmers Agitating Across the Country: News Extracts
22 Dec: Farmers of Rajasthan, Haryana, Gujarat continue to protest at the Shahjahanpur border of Haryana-Rajasthan for the last nine days against the three farm laws forcibly passed by the central government. The farmers are on a relay hunger strike in support of the farmers on Delhi border.
(Courtesy: SabrangIndia)
22 Dec: Farmers in Karnataka continues to express their solidarity with farmers as they continue their indefinite strike on December 22, 2020. The strike started by the Joint Struggle of Farmers, Dalits and Workers coalition group against the unjust farm laws commenced on December 16 and will go on until December 31 after which the group will make plans for future protest.
A 15-member leadership team representing each or most of the organisations in the coalition plan to visit farmers protest zones outside Delhi on December 25. According to strike Coordinator Dr. Prakash Kammardi this visit is to both to directly express solidarity and also to discuss further mode of struggle to keep the momentum going and compel the central government to repeal the laws.
(Courtesy: SabrangIndia)
22 Dec 2020: The AIKS-led Maharashtra Farmers’ Vehicle Jatha for Delhi began from Nashik on the evening of December 21 with a rousing public meeting and send-off by thousands of people.
The Vehicle Jatha of hundreds of cars, tempos and some buses was enthusiastically greeted on the way by hundreds of people at Ozar, Pimpalgaon Baswant and Shirwade villages before camping for the night at Chandwad, where it was given another rousing reception by hundreds AIKS-led peasants.
Maharashtra had been at the forefront of the farmers protests from 2018. Adivasis and farmers from across the state had marched –over 40,000 of them from Nashik to Mumbai in the Kisan Long March from March 6, 2018, covering 200 kilometres in 12 days to reach Mumbai’s Azad Maidan on March 12.
Today December 22, the Vehicle Jatha will be given a grand all-Party (minus BJP) people’s reception at Malegaon and Dhule, before camping at Shirpur on the Maharashtra border tonight. Tomorrow morning the Jatha will enter Madhya Pradesh.
(Courtesy: SabrangIndia)
23 Dec: Farmers from districts like Rampur, Pilibhit and Moradabad districts in Uttar Pradesh, who had gathered on the National Highway-24 at the Rampur-Moradabad border, were stopped by police from moving to the National Capital on Tuesday.
Hundreds of protesters blocked the highway in protest amid heavy deployment of police personnel. Sources at the scene told The Wire that police were in riot gear and water cannon were in place.
The Supreme Court had recently held that farmers have the right to peacefully protest. It was therefore not clear why Uttar Pradesh police stopped the farmers and protesters from proceeding.
The NH-24 runs over 400-km and connects Delhi with Lucknow via Ghazipur in Ghaziabad, where some farmers from western UP have been camping since more than three weeks, demanding the repeal of the three contentious farm laws.
(Courtesy: The Wire)
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Punjab Arhtiyas Resolve to Shut Mandis to Protest I-T Raids
Courtesy: Sabrangindia
21 Dec 2020: Punjab’s arhtiyas (commission agents) called for a shutdown of all state grain markets from December 22, 2020 to December 26, 2020 in retaliation for the sudden raids carried out on commission agents by income tax officials, said news reports.
Arhtiyas said that the raids and notices to multiple top agents on late December 18 and December 19 were pressure tactics adopted by the central government to discourage support for the farmers’ struggle.
Further, President of the Federation of Arhtiya Associations of Punjab Vijay Kalra, whose house and office were also raided, said agents will gherao offices of income tax (IT) officials, following which a final plan of action will be devised in consultation with farmers’ leaders. For this, the agents set up a five-member committee with the Sanyukta Kisan Morcha.
The committee will hold a meeting on December 21 or the following day in Delhi. Although agents hesitate to trouble cotton crop farmers with the closure, the nearly 28,000 licensed arhtiyas of the total 40,000 arhtiyas in the state are fully prepared to shut down as many as 153 grain markets. Incidentally there are over 400 arhtiya mandis in Punjab.
Members also protested how the central government had brought in the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) instead of the state police in an effort to intimidate the commission agent community.
Meanwhile, Punjab Kisan Morcha leader Ruldu Singh Mansa said during a press conference on December 20 that farmers unit from the Delhi border had left to gherao IT offices.
Similarly, farmers and agents alike demanded that the IT officers return the regular books that detail loans given to farmers and other information. Farmer leaders said that agents helped the movement with ration and money and will receive their full support.
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During PM Modi’s Mann Ki Baat on Dec 27: Boycott Ambani-Adani Products, ‘Thali Bajao’
Courtesy: Sabrangindia
22 Dec 2020: A Joint forum of mass organisations held an online meeting on December 21, 2020 to undertake struggles in support of the nationwide farmers struggle. They endorsed the call by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha to give up one meal on December 23 in support of farmers on National Kisan Day as well as the call for ‘Thali Bajao’ on December 27 during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Mann Ki Baat.
Similarly, they planned a nationwide “Boycott Ambani-Adani Corporate products and Services” campaign on December 26 and December 27 to appeal to people to avoid brand products and services such as Jio mobile service, Fortune food products, Reliance petrol pumps. Large scale campaigns will be undertaken with demonstrations, poster exhibitions, rallies and jathas, public meetings, social media campaigns on these days in villages and towns. The campaign would also mark the one-month anniversary of the Delhi Chalo programme in November.
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Lawyers and Activists Join Farmers to Fast in Solidarity
Niharika Ravi
23 Dec 2020: Lawyers from across the country have announced that they will observe fast along with the farmers to show solidarity.
Farmers protesting near the Delhi borders announced that they would observe fast on Kisan Diwas (National Farmers’ Day) on December 23 to commemorate the achievements of Ex-PM Chaudhary Charan Singh who was known for agricultural reforms.
The Delhi High Court Women Lawyers Forum, in expressing its solidarity with the farmers has demanded that the hastily passed farm laws must be repealed. Lawyers from the Forum include advocates Shweta Kapoor, Zeba Khair, Iram Majid, Miriam Fozia Rahman, Kriti Kakkar, Swaty Singh Malik, Geetika Panwar, Ekta Kapil and Nandita Rao.
Advocate Nandita Rao told The Leaflet, “I have only two words: ‘Jai jawan jai kisan’ This is the foundation of our country and shaking the foundation for quick profits for some will affect our food security and long term development. We will all pay the price if we don’t stand with the farmers.”
Senior Advocates Bishwajit Bhattacharya, Mahalakshmi Pavani, Indira Jaising, Anand Grover, R Vaigai and Mohan Katarki are also observing the fast. Renowned Advocates Susan Abraham, Prashant Padmanabhan, Firdaus Moosa, Shadan Farasat, Ranvir Singh, W R Khan, Mohd. Rashid, Mohd. Moorullah, Robin R David, Abdul Nasir Khan, Avani Bansal, Prateek Dwivedi, Prakhar Dixit, Varun K Chopra and Vaibhav Mishra have expressed their solidarity with the farmers.
“The father of our nation, Mahatma Gandhi said that if you silently watch injustice, it is as good as perpetrating it. We, therefore, have decided to observe a one-day fast in keeping with the moral practice of Satyagrah observed by bapu against the injustice and haste of imposing the New Farm Laws, in solidarity of farmers,” read the statement.
Advocates from the Chennai Bar also issued a statement of solidarity with the protesting farmers. They ask upon the government to “heed the demand of the farmers and roll back the legislation which seeks to advance the interests of the corporates over the rights and livelihood of millions of farmers and farm labourers.” Signatories include Advocates Anna Mathew, Sudha Ramalingam, T Mohan, S Devika, D Nagasaila, A J Jawad, N S Tanvi, Partha Sarathi S, Akila R S and Anees Jawad. Deeply inspired by the ongoing protest, they have declared that they would be observing a day-long fast as well.
The advocates are not alone in this.
Human rights activists and intellectuals who have been detained under Bhima Koregaon- Elgaar Parishad case are also holding a hunger strike in Taloja Jail.
(Courtesy: The Leaflet.)
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Farmers Switch From Jio to Rival Mobile Networks
Kusum Arora
27 Dec 2020, Singhu border: At the Singhu border on the National Highway-44 teeming with protestors, apart from the endless rows of tractors, langars, eye-catching placards and hit farmers’ songs are newly-erected stalls of mobile companies to cash in on farmers rushing to change their mobile operator from Jio to Airtel and Vodafone-Idea. They have been using the portability option, which allows a mobile phone user to switch to a different network while retaining their mobile number.
The campaign that initially started in Punjab in September has been picking up pace among people from Delhi, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh too. As farmers have been on protest, the need to kickstart the campaign at Singhu, Tikri and Ghazipur borders have been felt, and the response so far has been enormous.
Even back home in Punjab, special camps are being organised in villages with shopkeepers making special offers and running discounts to encourage people to switch from Jio sims to Airtel, Vodafone, Idea and other mobile companies.
The anger against corporate giants Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance and Gautam Adani’s Adani Group has been building up since the day the protests against the Central agriculture laws.
Amanbir Singh, a driver from Sultanwind in Amritsar at Singhu border, says in protest against the three farm laws, he too has decided to port his Jio Sim.
“Jo sadi zameen te nazar rakhi baitha, oh sada ki lageya? (One who has his eyes on our lands, what relation do I share with him?) We will fight this government tooth and nail,” he adds, his anger visible.
Ashok Dahiya, a farmer from Hisar in Haryana, has also said that he along with others have been spreading the word and asking people to boycott Reliance and Adani products.
Deepak Singh, Airtel team leader on duty at one of the stalls at Singhu border, says that they have erected stall based on customers’ demand. “On an average around 500 to 600 people have been getting their Jio sims ported to Airtel, Idea and Vodafone every day. As farmers are sitting on protest, it is not feasible for them to visit local shops to get their mobile sims ported, hence the decision to put up stalls here,” he informs.
Speaking to The Wire, Kisan Ekta Morcha IT wing head Baljeet Singh, who is credited with the setting up of a special IT cell for farmers to counter BJP IT wing’s fake news propaganda against farmers protest, says that the campaign against Jio Sims have started around a week ago, when Modi government made a proposal that they will amend the three controversial farm laws but will not scrap them.
“That’s when these mobile company stalls were put up here. Till date over 1.50 lakh Jio sims have been ported to Airtel, Idea and Vodafone at protest sites. The campaign is getting a thumping response through social media and by word of mouth. We are glad that people are coming on their own to express solidarity with farmers,” he informs.
A concerted campaign
Kisan Ekta Manch volunteers have also been posting similar videos calling for the boycott of Reliance products through its social media presence on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, WhatsApp and webinars.
On December 24, a video message of Dr. Darshan Pal, the president of Krantikari Kisan Union, was released on Kisan Ekta Manch Facebook page appealing people to boycott all Reliance products in daily use.
Back home in Punjab, farmer union members earlier had been involved in disconnecting power supply to Jio mobile towers and disrupted its services in Nawanshahr, Ferozepur, Mansa, Patiala, Moga, Barnala and Fazilka districts of Punjab.
It is pertinent to mention here that a wall-sized poster calling for the boycott of Reliance and Adani products has been put up near the main stage at Singhu border. Many other posters against both the corporate houses have been put up at other locations too.
Emphasising on people’s campaign, Baljeet Singh, who is also the vice president of Majha Kisan Sangharsh committee, says that individuals under different groups have been putting up posters themselves. “You will find many such hand-written posters, placards and banners put up on tractors and trolleys demanding a boycott of Reliance and Adani products. People are protesting through various mediums,” he adds.
It is pertinent to mention here that last week Reliance Jio had reportedly complained to telecom regular Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) against rivals Airtel and Vodafone Idea alleging that the duo was spreading rumours that Reliance will gain from the three farm laws enacted by the Narendra Modi government.
“And, the government says that we are misled. Mukesh Ambani’s reaction to our campaign against Jio has proved that we have hit them hard,” says a group of elderly farmers.
(Courtesy: The Wire.)
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The Global Punjabi Diaspora Speaks Up for the Farmers Protesting in India
Vandana Menon
Delhi isn’t the only capital where protesting Punjabis critical of the Indian government’s new farm laws have ensured their voices are heard. The impact of the protests has been felt far beyond India, in places like Hong Kong, Toronto and Paris.
One rally in California, home to the largest concentration of Punjabi Sikhs in the United States, saw 10,000 cars drive across the Bay Bridge on December 5 between San Francisco and Oakland, according to toll plaza estimates.
“It took us two hours to get across the bridge — a commute that takes only 20 minutes — and there was so much support from people who weren’t involved in the rally. People were honking, giving us the Black power fist, and cheering us,” said Damanjit Singh, a PhD student who attended the rally. “There were so many people who showed up for the protest, and we were all uniting over our land, our heritage of farming, and the threat of losing it. I’ve never seen anything like it,” he added.
The rally was organised by the Jakara Movement, a grassroots Sikh organisation in California that sought to support farmers, primarily from Punjabi, who have been protesting the new laws for the last few months – including blocking several roads leading into the Indian capital over the last two weeks.
“The turnout was astronomical. People responded to the call to action, and there was an outpouring of love and support that we sought to convey to our apne (own) in India,” said Manpreet Kaur, communications director at the Jakara Movement, a grassroots Sikh organization in California that planned the rally. “We are very closely watching what’s happening in India, and we want to let the Indian government know that international eyes are on them.”
Kaur said that the diaspora is spiritually and emotionally connected to the protestors. “Some like my truck-driving veere (youngsters) are also financially connected, as they are the children of kisaans (farmers) and are income earners for their families in Punjab. So people have increasingly been in touch with the Jakara Movement to find means of support while being so far,” said Kaur.
“We are sitting so far away from what’s happening on the grounds, but feel every emotion as though we are there — we cry with those crying, we smile with those dancing and singing folk songs, we laugh with those creating witty jokes and songs. We’re sitting on the edge of our seats, inspired and in awe.,” she said.
Diaspora Punjabis
Punjabis are a huge subsection of the Indian diaspora, with the Sikh diaspora making up a significant subset. While Canada is home to the largest Sikh diaspora, the UK is home to the largest Punjabi diaspora with over 700,000 British Punjabis, making up the largest ethnicity among British Asians.
There are over 250,000 Punjabi Americans and Punjabis make up almost 2% of Canada’s population. Political leaders in Canada and the UK have been tracking the protests in India: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and conservative Opposition leader Erin O’Toole both expressed their concerns over the protests last week, which the Indian government termed “ill-informed.”
On December 9, UK parliamentarian Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi brought the protests up and demanded that UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson convey the diaspora’s “heartfelt anxieties” to Modi.
Social media has helped spread the messages of solidarity and encouraged wider engagement much faster than traditional community organising in the diaspora once did. Punjabi youth and activists around the globe have taken on the responsibility of using social media to spread awareness, create art and music, and sell merchandise to raise donations.
Sukhmane Gill, 19, and Samit Bains, 28, started one such Instagram account in October after the farm laws were passed in September. Their account, @kisaani.co, has nearly 10,000 followers and has been sharing information on the farm laws, protest sites, and how to support the farmers with donations.
The account has also been selling merchandise, including hoodies, jackets, joggers, shorts and caps, and forwarding the proceeds to the non-profit Sahaita, which works with farmers in Punjab. As of December 7, they had raised over 20,000 Canadian dollars, around Rs 11 lakh.
“Farming runs in my family, and so we’ve been following what’s happening,” said Gill, an entrepreneur in Abbotsford, Canada. “Our Instagram page is focused on spreading information and news to those who need it, including those who aren’t from the Indian community.”
‘Ethos of resistance’
Protestors in the UK also asserted their rights to peacefully protest. Arvind Kumar, a student and independent journalist based in London, said that central London came to a standstill because of the protests.
“I went for the protest on Saturday as well and can confirm that there were not more than 50-80 people. On Sunday, I believe there were more than 5000 people and a few thousand cars that rallied in support of the farmers in India,” he said, adding that police dispersed crowds only for them to gather at Trafalgar Square instead.
(This is an extract. Article courtesy: Scroll.in.)
