January 26, 2021. Another Republic Day. Made memorable not so much by the parade and the fly past that included the Rafale jets for the first time, as by the anarchy unleashed on the national capital by so-called farmers taking out a tractor rally to emphasise their protest against the farm laws. By the way, what exactly was the tractor rally intended to achieve?
To be entirely fair, it was a section of the protestors which went berserk,breaking all rules and routes agreed upon by the police and the protesting farmer union leaders, but that section represented a large number. These elements drove the tractors helter-skelter through groups of people, at times straight at police personnel and even media persons covering the ‘event’. They seemed drunk on power and not amenable to reason. One driver running his tractor in circles overturned it and died in the accident. This provided an opportunity for some of the farmers to claim the man died in police shooting. That, when the police had resorted to no firing. What is unpalatable is that, though the whole scene was clear on television screens as it happened, some channels said that the police ‘claimed’ it was an accident. Come on, let’s not waffle like that in the guise of being politically correct or in the name of unbiased reporting.
One of the shocking sights was the hoisting of the Nishan flag at the Red Fort. Yes, these protestors went much beyond their designated route and breached the security of the monument.How was this allowed? The police who had clearly been told to go soft could really not counter the force of a berserk mob. A bit difficult to believe they were ordinary farmers. There were individuals in the crowd wielding swords. Many policemen fell into the moat and suffered injuries trying to escape the swords. Coming to the flag, there was some misreporting that it was the Khalistani flag and that the national flag had been pulled down, but this was not correct; reporters should be accurate in these details and not rush to give out details without checking. The Nishan flag is usually hoisted at gurudwaras, so it is clearly a religious symbol of the Sikhs.But the question does arise as to how and when are religious element entered a farmers’ protest?
The blame for the fiasco, to call it by a mild name, lies on the shoulders of the farmer leaders. The tractor rally should have been led by these union leaders from the front. They should have seen to it that such antisocial elements did not enter the protest. Yet, on the day, not a single leader was to be seen when the rally began. After the chaos, one or two leaders came out and expressed their ‘sorrow’ at the turn of events and ‘condemned’ the violence. Too little too late. Then they all dissociated themselves with the groups that indulged in the violence. So convenient.
Many questions arise. Should the police have given permission for the tractor rally? Hindsight says ‘No’. If, however, permission had not been given, the media and our intellectuals would have gone to town on the suppression of the democratic right to protest.
Has the government done enough to negotiate with the protesting farmers? While there is some truth in saying that the laws were enacted with unnecessary haste, the government has certainly offered many amendments and, in the end, the offer to hold the laws in suspension for 18 months. But the protesting farmers wantonly a repeal of the laws. There is frankly no point in negotiations when one side is not ready to give an inch.It is more like blackmail.There is an adamant refusal to discuss the laws.
How representative are the farmer unions of the entire country? Not clear at all. They seem to represent only some sections of the country. There are political brownie points sought to be gained. The opposition parties have seen this as a change to embarrass the government.It is also doubtful ifmany of the protesting farmers are poor.
There is also the question as to where the funds are coming from to maintain such a large scale camping effort with food and drink thrown in lavishly.
Beyond all that, when so many analysts have pointed out the plus points of the laws, how is it that the intelligent farmers are refusing to see any good in them?Or an effort to understand and discuss them?
Coming to the right to protest peacefully, why should only the right of the farmers be considered? What of the rights of the peaceful people of India residing in Delhi who are unable to move freely along the highways to travel to Punjab?