Given the nature of resistance and resentment against the policies of governments in different states, it is the political leaders who are betraying the people, because all of them now appear to feel that, whatever happens on the ground, BJP can’t be defeated. All those who cross over, and there are many fence sitters who suffer from the feeling that BJP leaders are least bothered about farmers’ and other protests, think that BJP can’t be defeated. This is dangerous for the future  of democracy.

In Uttar Pradesh, MLAs belonging to the Samajwadi Party cross voted. In Himachal Pradesh, a  large chunk of Congress MLAs voted for BJP. It means that the party’s vote management did not work. DK Shivakumar in Karnataka personally supervised the entire thing, and ensured that Congress won all the three seats. Opposition parties  must understand that their leaders are on the radar.

In Uttar Pradesh savarna (higher caste) MLAs of Samajwadi Party shifted to BJP. In Bihar the same thing happened with the Rashtriya Janata Dal. Many of the leaders in these parties are now crying foul and blaming Akhilesh Yadav and other leaders for over-pampering savarna leaders. Facts are not that simple. There is no doubt that this is Amrit Kal of Brahmanical savarna leaders, who are now more loyal to BJP. Except a few committed leaders, most of them have realised that their domain will only be possible under this Amrit Kal.

The Samajwadi Party has to think about this before it says anything. Why does it need Jaya Bachchan in Parliament? What is her contribution? Why can’t young and articulate voices of the Samajwadi Party get a chance to serve in the Rajya Sabha? The same is true with regard to Manoj Jha, who got elected again from RJD. The question is, are there no other Dalit or backward leaders in these parties who can articulate things?

The probelm is, the leadership understands the Brahmanical link of these leaders with media and other connections in power. But as  long as they are given plum positions, they will remain with the party; otherwise they will choose other greener pastures. The Samajwadi Party, Bahujan Samaj Party, RJD and the Congress need to think that it is not just that upper caste people are leaving for BJP. The question is why Nitish Kumar, Om Prakash Rajbhar and so many others too are aligning with BJP.

The problem is, we have surrendered our rights to the leaders, and they compromise. We need ideologically-committed political leaders like they were in the Communist parties, or dedicated workers of BSP and the Ambedkarite movement, who remained committed to their ideologies, whether their party wins or not.

The INDIA alliance must sit together and campaign together in many places, particularly Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat. It is important to understand that efforts are being made to create the impression of invincibility of BJP. But, clearly, things are not over and can change if tickets are given to right candidates and parties fight the elections with sincerity and seriousness.

Author is Human rights defender 

Courtesy: CounterView

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Three days before the May 26,2021 Farmers Protest, Opposition parties across India extended their support to mark the completion of six months of the historic farmers’ struggle.

On May 23, as many as 12 major political parties of India issued a joint statement demanding that the central government “stop being obdurate” and resume talks with the farmers’ body Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM).

The statement was signed by Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, Janata Dal- Secular leader HD Deve Gowda, Nationalist Congress Party leader Sharad Pawar, Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee, Shiv Sena leader Uddhav Thackeray, DMK leader M.K. Stalin, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha leader Hemant Soren, Jammu and Kashmir National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah, Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav, Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejaswi Yadav, Communist Party of India leader D. Raja and Communist Party of India – Marxist leader Sitaram Yechury.

“We demand the immediate repeal of the farm laws and the legal entitlement to Minimum Support Price (MSP) of C2+50 percent as recommended by the Swaminathan Commission,” it said.

These are two of the four main agendas that have been discussed many times by farmer leaders and Ministers. The other demands are: Amendments to the “Commission Ordinance for Air Quality Management in the National Capital Region and adjoining areas, 2020” to exclude farmers from penal provisions; procedure for withdrawal of draft ‘Electricity Amendment Bill 2020’ to protect farmers.

Earlier, on May 12, leaders had also jointly written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi asking, “Repeal farm laws to protect lakhs of our annadatas becoming victims of the [Covid-19] pandemic so that they can continue to produce food to feed Indian people.”

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Stop baseless accusations against political parties and repeal the three anti-farmer laws, demanded Opposition parties in a joint letter sent to Prime Minister Narendra Modi December 24, 2020.

The joint statement sent by the Indian National Congress (Congress,) the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP,) the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK,) the People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD,) the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD,) Samajwadi Party (SP,) the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) and many other left parties protested against the allegation that the Opposition is “repeatedly lying” to farmers about the new farm laws and “using them for their politics.”

“We have expressed our solidarity with protesting farmers.  The call for this ongoing historic struggle was given by over 500 kisan organisations across the country under the banner of Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM). Many of us had opposed these laws when they were enacted in the Parliament, without discussions, or a proper consideration. MPs who sought a vote were suspended,” they said in the letter.

Dismissing the earlier claim as a “travesty of truth,” parties also condemned Modi’s statement that those political organisations in favour of agrarian reforms nowadays oppose such laws. Parties said that they seek reforms to strengthen Indian agriculture, enhance farmers’ prosperity and ensure continued food security.  The present farm laws – the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance & Farm Services Act, the Farmer’s Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act – undermine these very objectives, said Opposition parties.

Further they questioned the statement that the Opposition is spreading lies regarding the Minimum Support Price (MSP) system.

“Modi claims the government is implementing the Swaminathan Commission Report in this regard. This Report recommended an MSP of C2+50 percent, while this government, at best, implements A2+50 percent.  In fact, this government told the Supreme Court about its inability to implement C2+50 percent MSP.  Who is spreading untruths?” they said.

Likewise, they condemned the idea that parties are “shooting from the shoulders of the farmers” to “regain lost political ground.” Parties said that farmers’ distress due to indebtedness is growing leaving a record number of them with no other recourse than committing distress suicides.

They also said that farmers’ resolve to protest in the midst of a severe cold wave in a peaceful manner while thousands more farmers march to join the protest is a testimony to the fact that farmers nationwide have risen in opposition to these laws. Already 32 farmers lost their lives for this cause.

“We demand that the present agri laws be repealed along with the Electricity (Amendment) Bill 2020. Following this, discussions on agrarian reforms must be held by the central government with farmers and all stakeholders… [to consider] new enactments… by convening a special or a joint session,” they said.

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