On Tuesday, January 26th 2021, as India celebrated its 72nd Republic Day – a day meant to honor the constitution – the country was once again reminded of how far we have strayed from the commitment to protect the fundamental rights of all the citizens under the administration of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The farmers have been protesting since November 2020 against the three Farm Bills which not only does not take the interests of the primary stakeholders into account, but was passed undemocratically as well by expelling opposition MPs, rushing the bill in Rajya Sabha without any debates and discussions and censoring the Rajya Sabha TV with a brazen disregard for rules and procedures. Since November 2020, 11 rounds of discussions between the government and the protesting farmers failed to bring any results. The farmers are adamant that the bills be repealed, while the government refuses to back down. Amidst this impasse, thousands of farmers sat near the Delhi border, facing the biting cold of Delhi winters.
Credits are due to the farmers for maintaining their dignity throughout the protests. From being called the vilest of names by the mainstream media, to their issues being ignored by the privileged majority as a propaganda to being attacked by the police with tear gas and water cannons, they faced all the attacks without any acts of violence on their part, and that is why their protests had been tolerated, atleast until January 26th.
Revolutions are meant to be disruptive. They are not supposed to adhere to the standards set by the opressors, but rather make the voices of the oppressed heard. This is what happened on January 26th. The actions on that day threatened the status quo and made the privileged middle and upper classes squirm uncomfortably in the privilege of their warm homes.
Despite stray incidents of violence, especially given that it was a huge gathering of lakhs of people, the farmers’ tractor parade was overwhelmingly and impressively peaceful march. However, the violence that happened needs to be viewed in perspective.
The Red Fort incident has been hyped up too much to condemn the tractor parade. There is shock across parties and commentators that the national flag was “desecrated”. As the picture became clear, it emerged that some people hoisted the Nishan Sahib flag. However, in contrast to the lies perpetrated by the media, the national flag on the Red Fort was not even touched. There was no damage done to the fort. What happened at Red Fort cannot be termed as a supreme insult to the symbol of Indian nationhood.
Furthermore, media described tractors as weapons of mass destruction. What was the destruction that these tractors caused ? No roads damaged, no house in Delhi broken, no public facility vandalised. The tractors were used by a small section of protesting farmers to remove barricades which were erected to prevent them from entering Delhi. The patience of the group ran out when they faced these barricades even on the routes on which they were allowed. It is evident that the police planned to create confusion and anarchy. The small section of agitated farmers, exasperated by the delay caused by the obstacles the police had created, forced their way into Delhi.
How is it that we condone the brutal violence done by the police in the name of maintaining law and order and are outraged when the protestors try to save themselves or resist attacks on them? While a small number of law personnels suffered minor injuries, it still does not compare to what the farmers suffered. There had been one death and numerous injuries on their side. Had the farmers been violent, they would have faced resistance from the people of Delhi. But they were welcomed with drinking water and showered with flowers; common people lined the streets to greet them. There was excitement and joy.
Before laying any further blame on the farmers, we should accept that the farmers have been agitated by an arrogant and non responsive government which treats people as its vassals. So, those who claim that they had always been right that these are extremists masquerading as farmers and therefore the agitation is illegitimate need to be told that the substantial issue which caused this agitation still remains alive, repealing the three farm bills.
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