The Centre must give up its domineering stance to find a solution acceptable to the farmers, writes ARUN SRIVASTAVA.
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Representatives of 35 farmers’ organisations rejecting the Modi government’s offer to set up a new committee, which would include agriculture experts and economists to look into issues, has not come as a surprise.
Narendra Modi, while deputing his ministers to talk to the agitating farmers, had made it explicit that he was playing to the gallery, was not at all serious in resolving the farmers’ crisis, and was trying to send a message that he was concerned about the miseries of the farmers. However, in reality, this was his machination to test the perseverance and patience of the farmers.
Modi must have initially realised that any attempt to denigrate and disintegrate the movement would not succeed as the present farmers’ movement has already acquired the character of a mass movement. This is the first time in history that the rich farmers and the middle order peasants have come together to fight the designs of the Modi government to crush them for serving the class interest of the capitalists and the corporate sector.
It is usually perceived that the farmers and the peasants have antagonistic relations.
Farmers rallying behind Shetkari Sanghathana or Kisan Union of Tikait and those opposing the peasants were cited as incompatible in the past. But the demand for the abrogation of the three laws that are detrimental to the interest of agriculture has made them join hands and hit the streets.
This is the first time in history that the rich farmers and the middle order peasants have come together to fight the designs of the Modi government to crush them for serving the class interest of the capitalists and the corporate sector.
The fact of the matter is that the character of the economy has changed, and globalisation has brought about immense changes to the ground reality.
This division of farmers and peasants on caste and class lines has, in fact, been at the base of the decline of agriculture in recent times. They have come to realise this bare fact now.
Modi nursed the view that he would succeed in widening the schism between these farming communities and eventually make them agree to his proposal. However, he failed to realise that the farming community would not accept this and would instead retaliate. This was manifest in the farmers’ representatives unanimously seeking repeal of the three laws that they have described as being against the interest of their community.
The disquieting fact is that the IT cell of the BJP and some of its leaders have started casting aspersion on the farmers of Haryana and Punjab by questioning why the farmers of Maharashtra and Karnataka and other states were not participating.
The farmers have come to realise the utter contempt which Modi nurses against them. They alleged, after the meeting, that the government was planning to turn them into a band of landless peasants by encouraging and facilitating the big houses and capitalists to purchase their lands at throw away prices.
The disquieting fact is that the IT cell of the BJP and some of its leaders have started casting aspersion on the farmers of Haryana and Punjab by questioning why the farmers of Maharashtra and Karnataka and other states were not participating.
Creating split and schism has been the tested and tried mechanism of the BJP.
On the other hand, they ought to know that farmers from other states have also been participating in the agitation. Besides, the farmers from UP and Bihar had also converged. The president of the Bharat Kisan Union (Ekta Ugrahan), Joginder Singh Ugrahan, categorically stated that farmers from other states have also participated.
A BKU leader said, “The government was not willing to accept our demand which was why it came out with the proposal to form a five-member committee to look into the issues related to the new farm laws.”
An insight into the agitation will make it clear that the BJP IT cell and its leaders have been trying to project the agitation as being supported by Khalistani elements and that the Sikhs as against the Prime Minister. Sadly, BJP leaders have been indulging in the worst of vilification campaigns which has been detrimental to the interest of the country.
The protesting farmers have expressed apprehension that the Centre and the BJP were resorting to these tactics to create confusion and malign the image and character of the agitation. A BKU leader said, “The government was not willing to accept our demand which was why it came out with the proposal to form a five-member committee to look into the issues related to the new farm laws.”
The leaders expressed, in clear and plain words, that there was no need for any fresh discussion.
It is clear that Modi government is following a two-pronged strategy to deal with the farmer protests: to engage in an unconditional discussion with the protesting farmers but to not withdraw its three controversial farm laws for now.
The only action the government is supposed to take is to scrap the three laws. General Secretary of Punjab-based Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee (KMSC), Sarwan Singh Pandher, said that the government was trying to divide the protesters by not inviting all the unions. He said this was the reason that the Prime Minister is not holding this meeting.
It is clear that Modi government is following a two-pronged strategy to deal with the farmer protests: to engage in an unconditional discussion with the protesting farmers but to not withdraw its three controversial farm laws for now. The compulsion to gratify his corporate friends has been so onerous that Narendra Modi dared to trample all the executive norms and constitutional provisions in his pursuit to thrust the newly enacted three agriculture laws on the farmers, who he claims are close to his heart.
The most interesting aspect of Modi’s opera was his fierce insistence to the farmers to accept the new laws which he had enacted for their welfare. The farmers, in turn, questioned the Prime Minister’s demagogy by inquiring whether any farmer or farmers’ organisation has requested him to enact these laws.
The lack of utter concern and sincerity on the Prime Minister’s part to find a resolution to the crisis was clearly evident in the threat he issued during his “Man Ki Baat” soliloquy on Sunday. He established that his government would not relent and even accused the farmers of organising the protest at the behest of some political forces.
The farmers’ leaders also sought to know the real character of the so-called reforms brought about by him. They asked him to name the individual or organisation that had demanded these laws and sought to know in what way these laws would reform the Indian agriculture sector and make it a profitable avocation.
While Modi was finding it tough to come out with a plausible reply and clarify their queries, the agitating farmers assembled at the Delhi-Haryana border. They hardened their stance and made it clear that they would further intensify the agitation to challenge the bluff of the Modi-Shah combine.
The lack of utter concern and sincerity on the Prime Minister’s part to find a resolution to the crisis was clearly evident in the threat he issued during his “Man Ki Baat” soliloquy on Sunday. He established that his government would not relent and even accused the farmers of organising the protest at the behest of some political forces.
One feels ashamed at his remark and wonders how the Prime Minister of a country could ridicule and insult his own people. This must be nothing but the sheer manifestation of frustration and arrogance.
Ultimately these so-called reforms will lead to replication of old structures outside mandis. Creating two market spaces with two completely different sets of rules is a recipe for disaster.
Farmers protesting against the Centre’s three farm laws have expressed apprehension that these will pave the way for dismantling the minimum support price system, leaving them at the “mercy” of big corporates. It is intriguing to witness a government betraying the trust of crores of farmers to benefit its corporate and capitalist comrades.
“Ultimately these so-called reforms will lead to replication of old structures outside mandis. Creating two market spaces with two completely different sets of rules is a recipe for disaster,” said Kavitha Kuruganti of the Alliance for Sustainable & Holistic Agriculture.
“Government will not come to know anything about transactions in these new markets. Not knowing will give the excuse not to act. Farmers fear this, rightly so,” she said.
Farmers have seen their economic clout diminish over the last three decades. Once accounting for a third of India’s gross domestic product, they now produce only 15% of gross domestic product, which is valued at $2.9 trillion a year. (IPA)
(Arun Srivastava is a senior journalist. Views are personal.)
