Wednesday Post

Yesterday was the India’s 72^nd Republic Day, in the national capital Delhi,  on one side people saw the annual parade at Rajpath, and the other  side farmers protest turned violent.

Tear gas shells, lathi charges, stone pelting and one death, what was supposed to be peaceful show of protest by the farmers on Republic Day, turned into a day of violence, rioting and damage to public property. Which begs the questions, if everything was planned, what went wrong?

In a deviation from pre-designated routes, which were agreed upon in advance by the Delhi Police and farmer leaders,  protesting farmers reached Delhi’s Indraprastha, ITO and other parts of Central Delhi after breaking barricades at the Ghazipur and Tikri borders early morning.

The farmers were then subjected to tear gas-shellings and lathi-charges by the Delhi police.

Farmer protestors also reached and entered the Red Fort and waived flags from the ramparts of the fort.

By evening, the Home Ministry deployed additional paramilitary forces in Delhi, and suspended mobile and internet services in several parts of the city. It looks farmers’ protest has been infiltrated by some wrong anti social elements, whose only aim is to vandalism. Protestors were holding swords, Kirpans and other items openly in total defiance of law, and turned peaceful protest march into violent one. Leaders of all the farmers’ union were left with shamed face, as they had promised Delhi Police that the tractor rally will be very peaceful, and the protestor will not deviate from the pre decided designated routes. It seems that union leaders had lost the  over  the crowd, leading to the violence.

At this juncture it is not possible to comment on whether the yesterday’s happenings were right or wrong. Whatever images I have seen of yesterday’s happening, one thing is certain that some wrong elements have derailed the cause  for which farmers are protesting. But I failed to understand why the farmer unions are not ready to sit across table and discuss point by point about the various provisions of the law and they are only insisting the latest farm laws should be repealed. Or they are backed and funded by some political organisations, whose only agenda is to destabilise Modi govt at any cost, it looks like even some international organisations are backing these protests just to spite PM Modi. One more thing which is baffling my mind is that, why the farmers only from few states like Punjab, Haryana, UP and Maharashtra are protesting and not from any  other states, are they not unhappy with the revised farm laws. Only protest from other states is from the politicians only and who  are misleading the farmers to score some political brownie points.

Now budget session of Parliament is beginning from 28^th January, and there are going to be fireworks and many disruptions, and it is highly likely that Finance Minister may not be able to read the budget speech on 1^st Feb amidst disruptions. If that happens then it will be very disturbing and budget provisions may be passed without any deliberations during this session of Parliament.

The latest on the farmers’ protest is that

Waiting for your views and comments.

Anil Malik

Mumbai, India

27^th January 2021