(KC Kalkura)
Champaran Indigo Farming in Bihar was a local issue. Promoted by Rajendra Prasad and led by Gandhiji, in 1917 Champaran Satyagraha woke up the whole country.
In 1925 Govt of Bombay Province increased the land tax by 22%. Only farmers of Bardoli, under the leadership of Sardar Patel, with the blessings of Gandhiji, in 1928 rose in arms against the draconian law. The excessive tax was withdrawn.
There was widespread dissent against the Simon Commission in 1927. But its impact was mostly felt in Madras under the leadership of Prakasam Pantulu. Dandi March (1930) was undertaken by the Mahatma in Gujarat.
Symbolic protests were made all along the coasts. The British Govt was forced to convene the Round Table Conferences in 1930-32. When all the prominent Congress leaders, including Gandhiji, Nehru, and Patel were arrested and detained under the Defence of India rules, young Aruna Asaf Ali assumed the leadership of the Congress and on 9 August 1942, hoisted the Congress flag at the Gowalia Tank Maidan.
This marked the commencement of the ‘Quit India Movement’. The bugle sounded and reverberated all over India, which forced the British to “Quit India”.
Social Media is full of ‘forwarded’ messages, full of satire and sarcasm. They allege, proxy, hypocrisy, blackmailing, malignity, and impersonation. They narrate that raw materials and ‘Five Star Menu/ eatables’ required for six months are stored in the agitating sights.
Farmers are provided with protective dress to bear the pinching cold of Delhi. The sinister role is attributed to Kejriwal, the Delhi CM in the ‘mock movement.’ e.g. “It is now confirmed that our farmers are so wealthy and self-reliant that they can agitate for months without doing any work.”
Another message concludes: “This is not a farmer’s strike but seems to be a war against an elected government… … Only 2% of the lobby is holding 98% against the wall, holding the Govt. at ransom only for political reasons.
After getting written assurances, farmers should have accepted and ended the agitation. This is blackmail tactics by a motivated group. The way of functioning of the agitation itself now reveals to the country that this is not a movement of the Farmers.”
Free or with concessional charges, by the temple administrations as well as charitable institutions wholesome, palatable, hot and fresh food and habitable accommodation are provided in many small and big pilgrimage centres, particularly during the festival seasons.
The farming community in the country is considering the present agitation as a ‘holy struggle’. It is that spirit of ‘do or die’ in them that is attracting ‘noble charities from all sides.’ Is a donation to build Ram Janmabhoomi alone is philanthropy.? I ask every sender to let me know the name of the writer of the piece. Stock reply: “I don’t know.”
Writing ethics as well as the Law requires that names of the writer, printer and publisher and the sources of information of every small publication, including a pamphlet must be prominently published. Neither the biased writers nor the blindly following senders have neither respect for ethics nor fear of law.
On 12 January 2021, the Supreme Court (SC) stayed the implementation of the Farm Laws and appointed an Expert Committee to look into the grievances of the farmers.
Further all the members of the Committee, though outstanding figures in their respective sphere of activities, were well-known supporters of the three contentious laws.
In fact, they had, on more than one occasion spoken in favour of the implementation of the Farm Laws. So unhappy with the order, farmers urge a Committee with a Former Judge of the SC.
SC has clarified that it is only a fact-finding Committee. Facts can be twisted by a partisan committee. The Govt has come forward with another proposal to keep in abeyance the implementation of the Laws for 18 months.
Farmers have bluntly refused to budge. They rightly view that the SC Order and the Govt’s proposal is a ploy to defuse the strike and scuttle the proposed Tractor Rally on 26 January 2021, on the eve of the Republic Day Celebrations. Once the ‘movement’ is called off, it is a herculean task to reorganize.
Regarding the Tractor Rally, on 18 January 2021, the SC ordered: “Entry into Delhi is a law and order issue. Who should be allowed entry and on what conditions are all determined by the police? We cannot be the authority to decide it.” It is a good gesture that the “Police give nod for Tractor parades in Delhi on R Day.”
When the Govt is prepared to keep them in abeyance for 18 months, what prevents it from repealing them in toto! It will be an act of magnanimity in good faith. This Govt, with the same majority, will continue in power till 2024. It can introduce the same Bill at any time, even before 18 months.
Prime Minister Modi should recall that on many issues, including the Emergency Indira Gandhi did not budge an inch; the result, the debacle in the 1977 Elections. And also what happened to conservative UK PM Margaret Thatcher, the Iron Lady. She ignored the more extreme effects of her deregulation program in the 1980s. She was overthrown by members of her own party in 1990.
We have seen a similar dynamic going on in present-day India regarding the effects of agricultural deregulation legislation passed last September 2020. The efforts of the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) party are similar. There are massive national or symbolic protests across India. They are mostly from small farmers in reaction to these “reforms” allegedly for their benefit. It may be time for Prime Minister Modi to reconsider, no loser; all gain.
(The writer is an advocate and political commentator from Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh)