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Farmers Protest 2024

The farmers demand from the union government to accept their long-standing demand of enactment of a law to guarantee a minimum support price (MSP) for their produce. This was only one of the conditions that the farmers had set when they agreed to withdraw their agitation in 2021.

Farmers Protest: Three more protesting farmers die due to breathing problems; total death toll rises to 10

On March 18, three more farmers protesting at the Punjab-Haryana borders as a part of the ‘Delhi Chalo’ died, bringing the death toll since the protest started to a total of ten. Two of the deceased farmers were aged, between the age of 75-80, while the third farmer was 40-years-old. As provided by the report of Hindustan Times, the farmer union leaders have blamed the deaths of the farmers upon the toxic air emanating from tear gas shells fired by the police that the farmers are being forced to inhale on both Shambhu and Khanouri borders. Due to the tear gas shells, the farmers have allegedly been facing breathing issues.

More about the deceased farmers:

Farmer Balkar Singh, aged 76, belonged to the Ajnala block of Amritsar. As per a report of the Times of India, Balkar breathed his last breath on Monday at the Rajpura railway station while waiting for the Shan-e-Punjab Express. As per the report, he was going home due to his ill health. It has been reported that Balkar Singh had expressed his wish to go home for a few days as he was feeling unwell. In the TOI report, Rajpura government railway police (GRP) assistant sub-inspector (ASI) Sukhwant Singh has provided that Balkar Singh was moved to hospital after alert.

Responding to Balkar’s death, Sarvan Singh Pandher of the Kisan-Mazdur Mukti Morcha (KMM) said that “Balkar was part of the Shambhu since it was pitched, and he died waiting to get home to his three sons and a daughter.”

Another elder farmer name Bishan Singh, aged 75, of Khandoor village in Pakhowal block of Ludhiana district, died on the same day as Balkar Singh after suffering from cardiac arrest. As claimed by the farmers leaders Bishan was associated with Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ekta Sidhupur) farmer union and had stayed at Shambhu border since the beginning of farmers' "Delhi Chalo" protest.

According to a separate TOI report, other farmers provided had that the deceased was facing breathing problems for the past few days after facing tear gas shells and smoke. He was moved to Rajpura’s govt hospital and declared dead after breathing issues.

Karamjit Singh Pakhowal block general secretary of BKU Ekta Sidhupur stated that “Bishan Singh faced breathing problems in the wee hours of Monday following which he was rushed to government hospital in Rajpura where doctors declared him dead.”

Pakhowal also provided details about the deceased and his family, and stated “He was unmarried. Bishan was the owner of only one acre of agricultural land and was in debt. He is survived by five brothers and their family members. The brother of the deceased has reached the hospital’s mortuary and a decision over his cremation will be taken soon."

Rajpura senior medical officer Dr Bidhi Chand referred to both the aforementioned deaths and said that “Both Bishan Singh and Balkar Singh were brought dead to the hospital. The causes of their death will be cleared once we do the autopsy by Tuesday. For now, the bodies are in mortuary.”

The third deceased farmer was identified as Tehal Singh, who died at his residence in Mansa district. As per the report of TOI, Tehal Singh belonged to Bhathlan village in Mansa district, and died on early hours of Monday morning. As per the report, only hours prior to his death, the deceased farmer had returned from the Khanauri border protest.

 

Related:

RSS must stop demonising farmers’ movement: AIKS

United they stand: ‘Kisan-Mazdoor Mahapanchayat’ at Ramlila Maidan sees a wave of farmers from across India, protesting

Four-hour long ‘Rail roko’ protest held by farmers on tracks across Punjab, participation from farmer unions associated with SKM

RSS must stop demonising farmers’ movement: AIKS

In the recently concluded Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) at Nagpur, Dattatreya Hosabale, its general secretary, has denigrated the ongoing farmers’ protests in Punjab and Haryana by terming them as “anti-national.” A favourite term of this regime to denigrate and criminalise any dissent against the policies of the RSS-BJP government, this slur against Indian farmers is not new. Such offensive terms were used even in 2020-2021 when the vibrant farmers’ protest shook India.

According to media reports, Hosabale, the second-in-command of the RSS, in his official general secretary’s report, has placed on record the fact that “disruptive forces” are behind the farm protests. Hosabale also added that there are well orchestrated plans to spread “separatist terrorism” in Punjab under the guise of the farmers’ movement, states the All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) in a press statement released today. This canard spread by the betrayers of the freedom struggle is out of vengeance against the incessant SKM-led united movement of farmers which has forced the Narendra Modi-led BJP Government to withdraw the pro-corporate Farm Acts. AIKS condemns this sinister move of the RSS which has often been indicted for its anti-national role in communal riots and pogroms, adds AIKS.

AIKS is of the firm opinion that the audacity demonstrated by Hosabale to demonise the farmers’ movement in general and the Punjab movement in particular is a “loyal continuum of the RSS’ trajectory of collaborating with British imperialism and denigrating the greatest anti-imperialist martyrs like Bhagat Singh.” The AIKS statement recalls that historically at the time when the “entire country was on the streets condemning the hanging of Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev, the RSS and other Hindutva outfits were busy denouncing them.” The RSS which couldn’t produce a single freedom fighter worth the name opted to belittle the immense sacrifices of these revolutionaries as “failure”, as clearly demonstrated in Golwalkar’s “Bunch of Thoughts”.

Notably, the RSS has used the term “disruptive forces” to characterise the patriotic farmers of Punjab and Haryana who are fighting against the corporatisation of the agriculture. The AIKS states however that, “the reality is that it is Hindutva terrorism that is acting as the most disruptive internal threat to the unity and diversity of the country. Hindutva fascistic politics is closely aligned with international finance capital and big business which is threatening Indian farmers. RSS should not forget its history of collusion with the imperialist forces and with imperialist agencies like the CIA.”

“CIA Agent J A Curran, who enjoyed unusual access to the top brass of RSS from 1949 to 1951, in his book had identified RSS as a tool that would help the imperialist block led by the USA to contain the militant peasant and workers’ movement in independent India. By demonising the farmers’ movement against corporatisation, RSS is showing its support for imperialist forces in their project to devour Indian agriculture.”

The AIKS has meanwhile also stated that in many of post independent India’s judicial inquiry commission reports “have identified the nefarious role of the RSS in inciting communal riots. This very reason had led to its ban in 1948 after Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination and in 1992 after the demolition of the Babri Masjid. The role played by the Sangh Parivar functionaries in the 1984 anti-Sikh pogrom as well as in the 2002 Gujarat genocide are well documented. AIKS calls upon all patriotic forces to isolate and expose fascistic elements led by the RSS who are spreading canards against the farmers’ movement.”


Related:

United they stand: ‘Kisan-Mazdoor Mahapanchayat’ at Ramlila Maidan sees a wave of farmers from across India, protesting

Four-hour long ‘Rail roko’ protest held by farmers on tracks across Punjab, participation from farmer unions associated with SKM

Day 23 of Farmers March: Mass withholding of social media ahead of march to Delhi, third time since the beginning of the protest

 

United they stand: ‘Kisan-Mazdoor Mahapanchayat’ at Ramlila Maidan sees a wave of farmers from across India, protesting

On the morning of March 14, visual of farmers in large numbers in the “Kisan Mazdoor Mahapanchayat”, being held at Ramlila Maidan, Delhi, surfaced on social media. Almost 37 farmer unions under the umbrella of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) have gathered in Delhi to press the union government to accept the demands of the farmers. It is essential to note that the demands being put forth by the protesting farmers include a law on the minimum support price (MSP) for 23 crops to enable the farmers to lead a dignified life, loan waiver, and other policy measures on insurance etc.

Most significantly they have demanded the implementation of the Swaminathan Commission's recommendations for MSP, pensions for farmers and agricultural workers. Along with this, they also seek justice for the death of the 22-year-old farmer Shubhkaran Singh, who was killed during clashes with the state police.

On-ground visuals from the protest site can be viewed here:

A large group of women can be seen within the group, hailing farmers unity and raising slogans against the Modi government.

Multiple farmer unions came together for this Mahapanchayat

AIKS (All India Kisan Sabha) also took to ‘X’ (formerly Twitter) to share pictures from the protest site.

Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) farmer leader Rakesh Tikait also participated in the Mahapanchayat and addressed the media.

Speaking to PTI, Tikait said the unified protest of farmers today has showed the government that the farmers of the country are stand together and their protest is not going to end unless the government brings a solution through mediation. “A meeting was held here and the government got a message that the farmers of the country are united. The government should resolve the issue through talks, this agitation is not going to end."

He further said “From Kashmir, Ladakh to Kanyakumari, we will hold protests across the length and breadth of India. They want to ruin the whole country the way they have ruined the mandis of Bihar. By ruining the mandi system in Bihar they converted the farmers in Bihar to labour. They want to turn all of us into labourers and snatch away our lands. We will not give up our lands, we will protest against each of them.”

He accused the union government of oppressing and dividing the farmers by stating “They want to break us up. They want to create separate farmer unions. This is the policy of the union government. They want us to break into divisions based on caste, religions, regions and language”

Significant Police “bandobast” could also be seen

The permission to organise the gathering was granted by the Delhi Police and municipal corporation on March 11 on condition that the protesting farmers limit participation in the Mahapanchayat to 5,000 persons, that there would be no tractor trolleys and no march at the maidan. However, the Delhi Police had still anticipated more than 15,000 farmers to arrive.

SKM has indicated that more than 30,000 farmers from Punjab were anticipated to arrive for the protest. The SKM had stated that will establish a “Sankalp Patra” or “letter of resolution” at the Mahapanchayat in an effort to bolster their opposition to the “pro-corporate, communal, dictatorial policies of the Modi government, to fight to save farming, food security, livelihood, and the people from corporate loot”.

Meanwhile, as this protest in the capital reached its culmination, thousands of farmers continue to protest on Punjab-Haryana borders as part of the ‘Delhi Chalo’ protest, where they have been camping since February 13.

 

Related:

Déjà vu, a film that depicts the chilling effects of corporate-contract farming, resonates with Indian farmer’s protests

Farmers march to be intensified from March 6, various means of transport to be opted by farmers to reach Delhi, ‘Rail Roko’ agitation to continue from March 10

SKM calls for massive Mahapanchayat at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi on March 14, denounces BJP Regime’s repression on farmers, and MP ticket to Ajay Mishra Teni

Four-hour long ‘Rail roko’ protest held by farmers on tracks across Punjab, participation from farmer unions associated with SKM

 

Four-hour long ‘Rail roko’ protest held by farmers on tracks across Punjab, participation from farmer unions associated with SKM

On March 11, farmers participated in a four-hour-long ‘rail roko’ protest as a part of their ‘Delhi Chalo’ protest. A day before, on March 10, farmer unions Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha had announced a nationwide 'rail roko' protest to put pressure on the union government to accept their demand for bringing in a law on Minimum Support Price (MSP) and other demands.

As per a report of Hindustan Times, Sarwan Singh Pandher, farmer leader from the KMM, had announced that the protesting farmers will stage sit-ins on railway tracks across Punjab, including Ferozepur, Amritsar, Rupnagar, and Gurdaspur districts. These protests took place between noon and 4 pm and saw the participation from the Bharti Kisan Union (Ekta Ugrahan), Bharti Kisan Union (Dakaunda-Dhaner), and the Krantikari Kisan Union, affiliated with the Samyukta Kisan Morcha. As per the HT report, 9 trains cancelled in Ambala division due to ‘rail roko’ agitation. It had been reported that other train services in Haryana were also impacted.

In addition to this, another death of a protesting farmer was reported yesterday. As provided by a separate report of Hindustan Times, the deceased farmer, who has been identified as Baldev Singh, had been admitted to the Government Rajindra Hospital in Patiala after he had complained of breathlessness on the afternoon of March 10. The 65-year-old man, who had been participating in the ongoing farmers’ agitation at Khanouri, died while undergoing treatment.

As per the report, doctors at the government hospital provided that the exact cause of the elderly farmer’s death could only be ascertained after a post-mortem is conducted. The farmer had been protesting at the Khanouri border for over a past few weeks. Baldev Singh belonged to Kangthala village in Patiala and was associated with Krantikari Kisan Union. Notably, this is the death that has been reported since the protest began on February 13.

 

Related:

Déjà vu, a film that depicts the chilling effects of corporate-contract farming, resonates with Indian farmer’s protests

SKM calls for massive Mahapanchayat at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi on March 14, denounces BJP Regime’s repression on farmers, and MP ticket to Ajay Mishra Teni

Day 23 of Farmers March: Mass withholding of social media ahead of march to Delhi, third time since the beginning of the protest

Farmers march to be intensified from March 6, various means of transport to be opted by farmers to reach Delhi, ‘Rail Roko’ agitation to continue from March 10

 

SKM calls for massive Mahapanchayat at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi on March 14, denounces BJP Regime’s repression on farmers, and MP ticket to Ajay Mishra Teni

The repression by the BJP-RSS regime, both by the union government and the Haryana government has been widely condemned nationwide.

One of the martyrs is 79-year old Gian Singh, who died of a heart attack on February 16, 2024 while protesting at the Shambhu border; the second martyr is 21-year old Shubhkaran Singh, who was shot dead by the trigger-happy police of the BJP controlled Haryana government on February 21 at the Khanauri border. Both these borders separate Punjab from Haryana.

These killings were preceded by the shocking act on February 13 of throwing tear gas shells on farmers from drones at the Shambhu and Khanauri borders, firing pellets and rubber bullets, unleashing lathi charges, making arbitrary arrests, and erecting huge iron spikes, barbed wire, and concrete barricades on the highways, just to prevent the farmers from marching to Delhi.

The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), the Central Trade Unions (CTU), and several left and secular political parties have strongly denounced the BJP-RSS government for its savage repression. The SKM and CTU also condemned the February 13 repression on farmers during the nationwide rural Bharat Bandh and industrial strike on February 16, a protest that was announced to focus on their pressing demands.

The SKM and CTU also denounced the cold-blooded murder by the Haryana police of the young farmer Shubhkaran Singh through nationwide protests on February 23. In this connection, the SKM also demanded the resignation of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, and Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij.

Cynical immorality

As if this violent state repression was not shocking enough, the brazen decision of the BJP –taken on March 3 --to award a ticket from Lakhimpur-Kheri, to Ajay Mishra Teni, the sitting member of parliament (MP) for contesting the coming Parliament elections is more than telling. Teni and his son were accused of the brutal massacre, (by running down) of four farmers and one journalist on October 3, 2021. Ajay Mishra Teni remains the Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, more than two and a half years after he and his son have been accused of crushing and killing four farmers and a journalist under their cars and severely injured many other. This incident took place when on October 3, 2021, when the SKM-led nationwide farmers’ struggle against the three black Farm Laws was still ongoing.

While such an incident and the following non-accountability would be unheard of in a functioning, civilised democracy, in the India under this dispensation, Ajay Mishra Teni remains in Parliament rather than in jail. It may be recalled that the British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, incidentally a Tory, was forced to resign from his high post because he was hosting drunken parties at his official residence 10 Downing Street in London when the nation was reeling under the Covid pandemic. In stark contrast, by “rewarding” Ajay Mishra Teni a ticket to Parliament—a man accused of the brute running down of four farmers and a journalist-- Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, and the entire BJP-RSS top brass have not only displayed their utterly cynical immorality, but they have also insulted the entire farmer community of India and rubbed salt into their wounds.

SKM-CTU struggle calls get enthusiastic response 

The SKM National Coordination Committee and the General Body which met at Chandigarh on February 22 took a number of important decisions. It briefly reviewed the massive success of the January 26 Nationwide Tractor Parades and the February 16 Rural Bharat Bandh and Industrial Strike.

Both these SKM-CTU actions, the Chalo Delhi call by other organisations (we are at the moment refraining from commenting on these organisations for the sake of forging farmers’ unity) and the repression by the government, served two vital purposes. One, they brought home to the entire country that the struggle of farmers and workers for their rights was far from over and would be intensified. Two, all these struggles succeeded in partly neutralising the impact of the January 22 Ayodhya Ram Mandir inauguration spectacle.

The most important decision of the Chandigarh SKM meeting was to organise a massive Mahapanchayat at the Ramlila Maidan on March 14. The CTU declared that it would also mobilise for this Mahapanchayat in solidarity. Hectic preparations are now underway to ensure that the March 14 programme is a great success, especially to ensure mass mobilisation from the North Indian states like Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh. There will be representative mobilisation from the other states too. It will have to be seen what the response of the authoritarian Modi regime will be, but the SKM has decided to go ahead with the Mahapanchayat, come what may.

The other major decisions taken in the February 22 SKM Chandigarh meeting were: Nationwide Black Day protests denouncing the police murder of Shubhkaran Singh; and demonstrations all over the country on February 26, the day that the Ministerial Summit of the WTO began at Abu Dhabi, to warn against any likely surrender by India to WTO diktats to dilute the demands for a remunerative MSP and a strong and universal PDS. Tens of thousands of farmers participated in both these protest actions throughout the country.

The SKM Chandigarh General Body decided to form a six-member committee to hold consultations with all former SKM members to launch a united action plan for achieving farmers’ demands and develop issue-based unity and to unite all Kisan organisations which were part of the SKM. The members include Hannan Mollah, Joginder Singh Ugrahan, Balbeer Singh Rajewal, Yudhvir Singh, Darshan Pal and Raminder Patiala.

The main demands of the SKM-CTU joint struggle, adopted in the National Convention of Workers and Farmers at the Talkatora Stadium in Delhi on August 24, 2023 are as follows:

  • Minimum Support Price (MSP) @C2+50% for all crops with guaranteed procurement, Reduction by half of all input costs with restoration of fertilizer subsidy;
  • Complete loan waiver to small and middle farm households and agricultural workers to ensure their freedom from indebtedness;
  • Radical strengthening and expansion of the Public Distribution System (PDS);
  • Comprehensive pro-farmer crop insurance scheme to combat natural calamities;
  • No hike in electricity tariff, no to prepaid metres, 300 units free electricity to all rural households and shops;
  • Minimum wage of Rs 26,000 per month for workers;
  • Repeal of the four Labour Codes;
  • No privatisation of PSUs including Railway, Defence, Electricity, Coal, Oil, Steel, Telecom, Posts, Transport, Airports, Port & Docks;
  • Banks, Insurance, Education and Health, Employment must be made into a Fundamental Right;
  • No Contractualisation of jobs, Scrapping of Fixed Term Employment, Strengthen MGNREGS with 200 days’ work per person per year and Rs 600 as daily wage;
  • Restoration Old Pension Scheme, Pension and social security to all in formal and informal economy;
  • Welfare Boards for all categories of unorganised workers on the lines of Construction Workers Welfare Board;
  • Implementation of the LARR Act 2013 (Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013);
  • Implementation of the Forest Rights Act, dismissal of Ajay Mishra Teni and registration of murder case against him, among others.

The SKM also reiterated that it will carry forward the struggle against communalism, casteism and authoritarianism to save basic principles of democracy, secularism, federalism, and socialism enshrined in the Constitution of India.

Hypocrisy of the Modi Government Exposed 

On February 10, the Modi Government announced that India’s highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna, would be conferred on Choudhary Charan Singh and Dr M S Swaminathan. The AIKS exposed the Modi regime through the following press release: 

“The All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) is of the clear opinion that the BJP Central Government headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi deciding to confer the Bharat Ratna Award on Choudhary Charan Singh and Dr M S Swaminathan on the eve of the 2024 general elections is the height of hypocrisy. By this step, the Modi regime is trying to hide its extreme anti-farmer, anti-agriculture, and pro-corporate policies of the last ten years. But farmers will see through its game, and it will never succeed in hoodwinking the rural populace.

“Firstly, it must be underlined that during the tenure of the Modi regime more than 750 farmers from different parts of the country were martyred during the year-long iconic and victorious nationwide farmers’ struggle against the three hated Farm Laws in 2020-21. Many families of these farmer martyrs have still got no compensation whatsoever, despite written assurances by the central government. The Modi regime is also the only government in independent India which has the ignominy of one of its own Union Ministers of State Ajay Mishra Teni being directly responsible for the crushing to death of four farmers and one journalist under cars directed by him at Lakhimpur Kheri in Uttar Pradesh, which is the native state of Choudhary Charan Singh, a renowned anti-feudal farmer leader himself. What is worse, this Minister, instead of being in jail for murder, still retains his post in the Modi Cabinet.

“As per the information of the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) which is directly under the Union Home Ministry, over one lakh farmers and agricultural workers have been forced to commit suicide due to indebtedness in the last ten years of the Modi-led BJP government alone. The main reason for this terrible human tragedy is the outright refusal of this government to implement the most seminal recommendation of the National Commission on Farmers (NCF), headed by Dr M S Swaminathan, of giving a legal guarantee of Minimum Support Price (MSP) at one and a half times the comprehensive cost of production (C2 + 50%).

“The BJP Election Manifesto of 2014 had said that “it will enhance the profitability in agriculture, by ensuring a minimum of 50% net profit, cheaper agriculture inputs and credit”. The same assurance was given by Modi in over 400 election speeches during the campaign. But what did the government actually do after coming to power? On February 15, 2015 it filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court that it was not possible to increase the MSP for food grains and other farm produce to input cost plus 50% as it would “distort the market”. Ever since then, it has consistently refused to honour any of the Swaminathan Commission recommendations.

“The other assurance that was given by Modi in his 2014 election speeches was that of a loan waiver to the peasantry. But not a single rupee of peasants’ loans has been waived in the last ten years by the Modi-led central government. The Modi regime, while stubbornly refusing a peasant loan waiver, has written off loans worth over Rs 15 lakh crores that had been taken by a handful of its crony corporates.

“Modi’s talk of doubling farmers’ incomes in six years has also been exposed for the ‘jumla’ that it was in the first place. In fact, as the latest Union Budget has proved, there have been huge cuts in outlay on agriculture and allied sectors, including on food subsidy, fertiliser subsidy, irrigation, and also for MNREGA. It has also been recently revealed that the Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Ministry of the Modi regime shamelessly returned an amount of over Rs 1 lakh-crore that was earmarked for agriculture in the last five budgets.

“The entire thrust of the Modi government in the last ten years has been to fatten its crony corporates at the expense of the peasants and workers, and the entire country itself. This was seen in its attempt to steamroller the three Farm Laws, and earlier the reactionary amendments to the LARR 2013. Both these attempts were defeated by united farmers’ struggles.

“Choudhary Charan Singh and Dr M S Swaminathan in their entire life, thought, and work, were diametrically opposed to this entire trajectory of rural development that the Modi regime has been pushing at the behest of its corporate masters, both domestic and foreign. This trajectory has already led to the ruin of Indian agriculture, and the Indian peasantry.

“The peasantry of India will surely see through this new hypocrisy of the Modi government, and will show its anger by defeating this regime in the coming elections. Its determination will soon be seen in the great success of the Rural Bharat Bandh and Industrial Strike called by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) and Central Trade Unions (CTUs) on February 16, 2024.”

(The author is National President, All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS))

Views and opinions expressed in this article is solely that of the author and does not necessarily reflect the views or position of SabrangIndia and this site.

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Extension of internet bans, suspension of social media accounts: state action on farmers’ protest focuses on suppression of voices

Day 23 of Farmers March: Mass withholding of social media ahead of march to Delhi, third time since the beginning of the protest

On March 3, farmer unions and farmer leaders had announced that the farmers will continue with their ‘Delhi Chalo’ protest from March 6. With this, they had also urged the union and state governments to allow the protesting farmers from Punjab and Haryana passage to Delhi so that they could peacefully exercise their right to protest. Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher had stated that if the government allows peaceful passage and right to demonstrate, it would clarify the union’s stance on letting the farmers exercise their right to protest. But, reports of the union government employing the same repressive tactics on farmers and farmer leaders have now emerged, signalling that the government is in no mood to back down. As per a report of the Wire, a day before the farmers were to begin with the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) Non-Political and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM)’s ‘Delhi Chalo’ protest, more social media accounts were withheld by the union government. As per the report, on the night of March 4, the Union government withheld around hundred ‘X’ (formerly Twitter) accounts that belonged to farmer union leaders or those who have been supporting and covering the farmers’ cause.

It is essential to note that this is not the first time that the government has employed these censorship tactics. Since the beginning of the protests, the union government has indulged in such mass censorship and mass withholding of social media accounts two other times too. (Can be read here and here).

The ones silenced:

Amongst the ones whose accounts have been withheld is journalist Garvit Garg, working for Gaon Savera, who had been covering the farmers protest from on-ground. Previously, the X accounts of ‘Gaon Sawera’, a page run by independent journalist Mandeep Punia had been withheld, as was Mandeep’s personal page. Gaon Savera is a prominent name supporting the farmers’ protest and had been arrested in 2020. It is also pertinent to highlight here that even in August of 2023, when farmers had been protesting to demand compensation for the entire north India region to deal with the crop loss owing to floods, similar undemocratic tactics were employed by the government against Gaon Savera. Then, the Facebook page of Gaon Savera had been blocked to stop them from covering the protest.

Garg spoke to the Wire on the issue and said that the government has blocked all channels of information dissemination and attacked a citizen’s right to freedom of expression. Garg stated, “It is not just an attack on freedom of expression but a professional loss for us. Independent journalists work very hard to gather factual news and sustain their work. We are being continuously targeted by the government. Earlier the government had withheld the official page of Goan Savera and that of its editor, Mandeep Punia. This time, they targeted me”.

Terming this as an effort of the government to muzzle every voice on the ground, Garg called this is as a bad precedent that has left the farmers and those supporting them with no option to provide reports from the ground. As per the report of the Wire, Garg said, “There is a total blackout of farmers’ protests news everywhere. See, we could not even share the information of the Delhi Chalo call of March 6 on social media. It is a dangerous precedent, even those working with bigger media houses will also be attacked. Right now, we do not even see any way of fighting back”.

As per the report, many farmers have claimed that the union government has also targeted those accounts which have been promoting the farmers’ cause since the 2021-21 farmers’ protest. In line with the same, the account belonging to Sheena Sawhney, a dentist and US citizen, who has been supporting the farmers’ protest since the 2020-21 protests, was also withheld. Speaking with the Wire, Sawhney said “We led a huge group of people in the US and campaigned against the farm laws. I remained in touch with all the SKM leaders like Rakesh Tikait, Balbir Singh Rajewal and others to mobilise people but nobody blocked my Twitter account then. Now, when the farmers’ protest has just started, the government withheld my X account, which basically hints at moles within the farmers’ groups who were sharing our information with the government”.

Such oppressive moves by the union government have also clarified that not only Indian citizens, but even people abroad are on the radar of the union government and their social media accounts are also not safe. But, Sawhney asserted that the employment of such tactics will not stop her from supporting the cause of the protesting farmers and she will continue to support them. She also alleged that with the 2024 general elections around the corner, the government is not willing to have such protests take place.

“I am not rattled by the government’s action. Even if the government did not retrieve my X account, I would make a new account and continue to raise [my] voice for farmers. I was trolled and labelled as a ‘Khalistani’ for supporting farmers but the government never took any action against the trolls and it hurts. I spoke for farmers earlier; I will speak even now”, she said.

As per the report, Sawhney provided that the supporters of the farmers’ cause will write letters to senators, council members and higher authorities in the US to gain momentum for the farmers’ protest. Sawhney said, “We will reach out to people in the US, UK, Canada, Australia. Interestingly, the BJP and RSS people who supported George Floyd’s protest in the US were questioning the farmers’ protest and the tragic killing Shubhkaran Singh”.

The report also provides the statement of Gurshamshir Singh, a lawyer-turned-independent journalist from Patiala, whose X account was withheld for the first time. As per the report, Singh alleged that the government is employing censorship tactics as it does not want any information about the farmers’ protest to reach the masses. Talking to the Wire, Singh said that “The Delhi Chalo call of March 6 is the biggest reason why so many social media accounts were blocked in India. It has almost become a modus operandi of the government to block social media accounts whenever they see a potential of mass mobilisation”.

According to Singh, the union government is able to take such bold authoritarian steps in a democratic country without providing any explanation as no one is questing them. Singh said “The government knows that nobody is going to hold them accountable for this action, hence such emboldened actions. It is also an attempt to create a fear psychosis among people related to the farmers’ protest in the country. It is sad that the country was heading towards an authoritarian regime and in case you are from Punjab, you are more prone than others.”

Among others, Samita Kaur, an independent researcher from Chandigarh working for farmers and who was also running a campaign titled ‘We support our farmers’ was also targeted. Talking to the Wire, she said “We have been simply sharing news of the farmers’ protest. This time, the government was also targeting those accounts who were using the hashtags of farmers’ protest. We had just shared an article of the Human Rights Watch on the KMM page, after which our account was withheld”. Notably, Kaur had also spearheaded the ‘No farmer, No food’ campaign along with her peers in Chandigarh.

Kaur also expressed concern over the fact that farming was going to the corporations, against which the farmers have been leading this fight. Kaur said, “The corporations want to control and change the eating habits of the people. They want to decide what we are going to eat, hence the fight between the farmers and the corporates/government”.

Blocking social media ‘modus operandi’ of Modi government: Farmer leader

Farmer union leaders have showed no shock at the withholding of the social media accounts ahead of their planned march. Rather, they have termed the same to be the ‘modus operandi’ of the Modi government, where social media accounts were being repeatedly withheld in bulk whenever they gave a call to move to Delhi.

Speaking to The Wire, farmer union leader Gurpreet Sangha said that overnight, around 100 social media accounts belonging to farmers, farmer union leaders and people supporting the protest were withheld in India. Sangha also provided how his own accounts have been withheld three times since the beginning of this protest. Sangha said, “Till date, the government has withheld my three X accounts, which I made after each one of them was blocked in India”.

Sangha said that the union government does not want the voices of the farmers to reach the masses and these attempts of suppression are being employed out of fear. As per the report, Sangha said “The [Union] government’s message is clear: that they will not even let the farmers speak, leave alone the debate of right or wrong. Basically, the government fears the farmers’ protest that is why they were banning social media accounts. Even killing its own people should be the last resort of any regime, but either in panic or in despair, the government has misacted big time.”

Referring to the March 6 Delhi Chalo call, Sangha said that whether it is 100 farmers or 10,000, they will simply reach Jantar Mantar in Delhi and sit there in protest. As per the report, Sangha said “It is a purely organic announcement, where farmers from the rest of the country other than Punjab and Haryana would lead the protest”.

Sangha also provided that they will be taking legal recourse against the withholding of accounts and said, “We have decided to approach the Supreme Court in this case. Our legal team was working on it”,

Meanwhile, the legal team of the KMM, led by its coordinator, advocate Akhil Chaudhary from the Rajasthan high court, and Anjali Sheoran from the Punjab and Haryana high court, said in a statement that some social media accounts were blocked on the instructions of the Union government.

“We see this as a violation of our freedom of expression and plan to challenge it in the Supreme Court. We have urged all affected individuals to join our petition and contact our team for necessary paperwork, including signing the vakalatnama and completing other formalities”, the Wire report quoted Chaudhary.

Visuals of security beefing up at the border:

Images and videos showing tightened security of the Delhi Police at Tikri, Singhu, and Ghazipur borders have emerged on social media. As per a report of the Times Now, metro and railway stations is also seeing beefing up of security ahead of planned farmer protests in the Delhi. As per the report, high vigilance is being maintained at crucial transit points such as railway stations, metro stations, and bus stands, and this heightened security posture may result in increased police checks across the city.

Related:

Farmers protest: Documentary ‘Kisan Satyagraha’ barred from Bengaluru film fest

Farmers protest: “The law is clear on internet suspension” Court asks state government to submit internet suspension orders

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Farmers protest: Death of a farmer after teargas shells dropped by Haryana cops, protests intensify as 77 SM accounts banned by MEITY/MHA

Extension of internet bans, suspension of social media accounts: state action on farmers’ protest focuses on suppression of voices

Farmers march to be intensified from March 6, various means of transport to be opted by farmers to reach Delhi, ‘Rail Roko’ agitation to continue from March 10

Yesterday, leaders of farmer unions declared that they will continue with their ‘Delhi Chalo’ protest from March 6 and present a united face against the union government's deception that the 'Delhi Chalo' protest is limited to farmers in Punjab and Haryana. On March 3, farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher announced that the farmer unions will resume their march to the national capital on March 6 and will also be continuing with the nationwide ‘Rail Roko’ agitation, where the farmers block the rail tracks across the country, from March 10.

"We have decided to march to Delhi on March 6. Meanwhile, on March 10, we will block rail tracks (across the country) from 12 pm to 4 pm," said Pandher, who is the coordinator of the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha.

The aforementioned update comes after the farmers had paused their "Delhi Chalo" march till February 29 while staying put along the Punjab-Haryana border.

Notably, the announcement was made by Pandher and farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal from Punjab's Balloh village- the native place of 22-year-old protestor Shubhkaran Singh who died during clashes with the Haryana police on February 21. Singh died due to a head injury sustained allegedly during police action against the farmers at Khanauri on the border of Punjab and Haryana. It was after the final prayer meeting held for Shubhkaran at Balloh that the farmer leaders spoke to the media.

Pandher had previously stated that, “Our morchas at Shambhu and Khanauri are going strong and we have sought more tarpaulin sheets and makeshift tents. More announcements will be made after Shubhkaran’s bhog on Sunday afternoon. I appeal to each and every person in Punjab to join the last prayer meeting at his native village Balloh in Bathinda district.”

The farmers have asserted that their protests will only intensify until their demands are met by the union government. It is essential to note that the farmers had rejected the proposal tabled by the union government on the issue of a minimum support price guarantee. The said proposal had purported that certain promoted cooperative societies would buy three pulse crops, maize, and cotton at MSP for five years after entering into a legal contract with farmers.

In his address with the media, the farmers provided that the famers being Haryana and Punjab are currently camping at the border points between Punjab and Haryana and will resume marching towards Delhi on March 6 in a "peaceful manner". Pandher and Dallewal stated that the farmers will intensify their agitation at existing protest sites until the Centre meets their demands.

“At Shambhu and Khanauri, the agitation will continue like before and will be further intensified. Our agitation will continue till the demands are met,” Pandher said.

The farmer leaders also emphasised upon the protest not being limited to Punjab or any particular farmer’s outfit.

"The Centre is trying to build a perception that the current agitation is limited to Punjab and the fight is led by only two forums. But we want to make it clear that more than 200 outfits in the country are part of the two forums… The perception being created that the agitation may die down when the Model Code of Conduct for the polls comes into force is not correct. We may have to fight today, tomorrow, but we will continue to fight for our rights," the farm leader was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.

With this, the farmer leaders urged the farmers travelling to Delhi from father states to opt for other means of transport. Doing the same will also clarify the union’s stance on letting the farmers exercise their right to protest as the union government had been justifying their use of force by stating that tractors cannot run on highways. In his address, he also pointed to how farmers from Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and Tamil Nadu had been stopped by the government while travelling to Delhi on February 13.

“The farmers from far away states, who cannot reach on tractor trolleys, should head to Delhi by trains and by other means of transport. It will also become clear whether the government allows those farmers to enter those farmers who go without tractor trolley”, Pandher said.

He added that all the Punjab panchayats should pass a resolution in support of the farmers' demands, adding that the union government is employing “all tactics” to stop their ‘Delhi Chalo’ march.

“On February 13, the Haryana government used tear gas shells, rubber bullets on us…when we wanted to march ahead. They continued it every time we tried to march ahead…They [Centre] are telling us repeatedly that we can go by train or buses to lodge our protests in Delhi instead of tractors. So, on March 6, states other than Punjab and Haryana will march towards Delhi in buses or trains. Let us see if they allow them to reach or not.”

Earlier, Pandher had said that the government was not paying attention to farmers’ demands as the ruling party’s sole focus was on winning the Lok Sabha elections.

“Rather than paying attention to farmers, they are focused on how to win the elections,” Pandher had said as per a report of Indian Express.

Statements by other farmer leaders:

As provided by the Indian Express, the farmer leaders have also assured that the existing dharnas at Shambhu and Khanauri will be strengthened and farmers will also add more numbers at the Dabwali-Bathinda border. As provided in the IE report, Ramandeep Singh Mann, a member of the KMM, said that “We will march to Delhi in a peaceful manner if there is no repression from the Haryana security forces at the borders. Else, we will strengthen the stir at the existing borders and even add more locations, not only in Punjab but in other states as well”.

BKU (Krantikari) general secretary Baldev Singh Zira said, “Our Dilli Chalo call stands as it is but at the same time, we don’t want any more Shubhkarans to die at the hands of security forces. If they allow us to move peacefully, we will march to Delhi. Else we will strengthen our dharna at the borders.”

Jaswinder Singh Longowal, president of BKU-Ekta (Azad), came down strongly upon the union government and the Haryana government for using “oppressive methods” against farmers holding a peaceful protest. “It is not just the question of using teargas or mild lathi-charge… We have seen them use toxic gases and everyone knows how we lost Shubhkaran,” he said, as per the IE report.

HE further added by saying “In a democracy, is it justified that bullets are fired? Our agitation will continue. It will head to victory. At the same time, one thing is clear, we have to save our children from bullets”.

Ranjeet Singh Raju, a farmer leader from Rajasthan who is part of KMM, said, “Farmers from other states will also march to- wards Delhi, so more dharnas are likely to happen in different parts of the country if farmers are stopped.”

What are the union government’s plans?

On Wednesday, March 28, Union agriculture and farmers' welfare minister Arjun Munda had announced that the union government does not have any immediate plan to resume talks with protesting farmers, but it will find a solution soon.

“There is no immediate plan to resume the talks, but the government will soon find a solution to address farmers' concerns," Munda had said as per a report in the Livemint. Notably, the last meeting that the union minister, along with Piyush Goyal (Food Minister) and Nityanand Rai (Minister of State for Home Affairs), had held with the famers was on February 18. As the proposal of the union was rejected, no results had come out of it. Prior to the same, the union ministers and farmer leaders had met on February 8, 12 and 15 but the same had remained inconclusive.

Notably, on March 2, the authorities had partially reopened the Singhu and Tikri border points, almost two weeks after those were sealed in view of the farmers' "Delhi Chalo" march.

It is essential to note that the ANI had recently reported that Punjab is facing a major crisis of diesel and cylinder gas due to the farmers' protest. Supplies of Diesel and LPG Gas in Punjab are badly hit due to roadblocks and safety issues, a report in the Livemint had provided while citing Ministry Sources.

 

Related:

Farmers protest: Documentary ‘Kisan Satyagraha’ barred from Bengaluru film fest

Farmers protest: “The law is clear on internet suspension” Court asks state government to submit internet suspension orders

Farmers’ March: Police threatens protesters with cancellation of passports and visas

Farmers protest: Death of a farmer after teargas shells dropped by Haryana cops, protests intensify as 77 SM accounts banned by MEITY/MHA

Extension of internet bans, suspension of social media accounts: state action on farmers’ protest focuses on suppression of voices

 

 

Farmers protest: Documentary ‘Kisan Satyagraha’ barred from Bengaluru film fest

BENGALURU: Unsurprisingly, ‘Kisan Satyagraha', a documentary on the 2020-21 farmers' protests in Delhi, has been barred from screening at the ongoing 15th edition of Bangalore International Film Festival (BIFFes) following “instructions” from the Union information and broadcasting ministry (MEITY). The documentary is directed by acclaimed Kannada director Kesari Haravoo reports TOI.

According to government officials, the screening of the documentary was not permitted because of its sensitive subject. What is sensitive of course not known neither explained is what is “sensitive” about a film that genuinely reflects farmer’s anger against three unjust farm laws that were later even withdrawn by the union government.

"All the movies to be screened are cleared by the I&B ministry. However, the ministry did not give a green signal to 'Kisan Satyagraha'... The Central authorities have told us that the matter pictured in the documentary is a sensitive subject and hence it should be withheld from being screened at the film festival. Following the instructions, we have withdrawn the screening of 'Kisan Satyagraha'. Otherwise, it should have been scheduled for screening on Friday," said G Himanth Raju, registrar, Karnataka Chalanchithra Academy.

Two other documentaries - one on Israel and the other on Ukraine (20 days in Mariupol) - have also not been given permission to be screened.

'Kisan Satyagraha' captures the stir seeking repeal of three farm laws. It has been screened at four international film festivals. It won the best documentary award at the White Unicorn Film Festival.

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Farmers protest: “The law is clear on internet suspension” Court asks state government to submit internet suspension orders

As farmers convene today on February 29 to decide how the further course of their movement will continue, whether they will continue their march onwards to Delhi or stop midway, legal proceedings continue. Livelaw today reported that the Punjab and Haryana High Court directed both Punjab and Haryana governments to officially submit the “requisite” regarding the suspension of internet services amidst the ongoing farmers’ protest.

Furthermore, according to Livelaw, a bench which has Acting Chief Justice GS Sandhawalia and Justice Lapita Banerji reportedly cited the Supreme Court's decision in Anuradha Bhasin v Union of India case, and stated that “the law is very clear on suspension of internet.” The bench instructed both states to provide on record the orders for the suspension of internet services.

During the proceedings, the court also addressed two Public Interest Litigations (PILs) which were filed to have a judicial inquiry into the death of a protestor on February 21st. Justice Sandhawalia asked the Punjab government about the delay in the post-mortem report, and enquired why it took a week to conduct the examination. He also asked whether it was a natural death. As per reports, a young farmer who was named Shubh Karan Singh had died during the protests. 

Responding to the queries, the counsel for the Punjab government informed the court that as the post-mortem was conducted recently, they are still awaiting the report. The counsel also mentioned the registration of a “Zero-FIR” in the matter under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

Similarly, on February 28, The Quint reported that the Punjab and Haryana High Court took up PGIMS Rohtak and expressed dissatisfaction over the lack of clarity in the case of one Preetpal Singh, a protesting farmer. Singh was reportedly “kidnapped” by Haryana Police from the Khanauri Border on February 21st. The court was responding to a habeas corpus petition that was filed by Davinder Singh, the father of the 30-year-old injured farmer. In his petition, he had asserted that his son was taken by Haryana Police on land that comes under Punjab while he was engaging in a “peaceful protest.” The court has told the PGI Chandigarh to initiate a medical board that will evaluate the injuries on Singh who is currently hospitalised. 

Related

Farmers protest: Death of a farmer after teargas shells dropped by Haryana cops, protests intensify as 77 SM accounts banned by MEITY/MHA

Extension of internet bans, suspension of social media accounts: state action on farmers’ protest focuses on suppression of voices

 Farmers Protest: Braving tear gas, blockades, state obstructions, farmers journey towards Delhi to demand law on MSP

Farmers’ March: Police threatens protesters with cancellation of passports and visas

The Haryana Police requested the annulment of passports and visas for people who are suspected of violence during the ongoing farmers’ ‘Dilli Chalo’ march at the Punjab-Haryana border. Farmers hailing from Punjab are slated to decide whether they will resume their march and move towards Delhi on February 29. They had earlier decided to halt their march to the national capital.

According to DSP Ambala, Joginder Sharma who told the media in a video statement released by ANI, the process of identifying the people has been started. The authorities have said that they have used the surveillance capabilities of CCTV and drone cameras and have successfully identified the people whose passports they hope to have cancelled. The police will now approach the Ministry and embassy and request for the cancellation of visas and passports for these people. Various details such as photographs, names, and addresses of the identified people will be submitted to the passport office.

According to the Indian Express, a police officer has told the newspaper that all people who are participating in the farmer agitation will have their passports cancelled; only a few who are involved in the unrest will. The source told the newspaper that different action is being taken against those described as ‘rowdies’ who travelled from Punjab to Haryana during the course of the farmer agitation. The DSP further stated there are numerous photos that have recorded instances of vandalism and disruptions and these are the individuals who will be targeted.

In other news, the report has revealed that leaders of Haryana farmer unions have told that the state police has fixed notices to their residences which informs them that the state intends to ‘recover’ damages to public and private properties that took place during the agitation, the notices also say that they will sod by seizing the farmers' assets and freezing their bank accounts.

Since February 13, farmers from Punjab have been protesting at established camps at the Khanauri and Shambhu points along the Punjab-Haryana border. One 24 year old young farmer named Shubh Karan Singh was grievously injured and later succumbed to his injuries. Reports assert that he died in police firing.

 

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Farmers Protest: Braving tear gas, blockades, state obstructions, farmers journey towards Delhi to demand law on MSP

Farmers protest: Death of a farmer after teargas shells dropped by Haryana cops, protests intensify as 77 SM accounts banned by MEITY/MHA

Signs of the state brutality continues with both Haryana and Delhi police crossing all democratic norms to prevent farmers’ entry into the capital. The Indian Express reported the death of a farmer at the Khanauri  border at 4.16 p.m.

In its defence, a woman officer from the Haryana police was seen on social media alleging that the farmer protesters surrounded the police from all sides by pouring chilli powder in the stubble, attacked the policemen using sticks and maces along with stone pelting at Khanauri border. Around 12 policemen were seriously injured. Appeal to the protesters for peace, the police added.

Meanwhile, the All India Kisan Union (AIKS) has condoled the Death of Farmer Shubh Karan Singh in Police Action and demanded the dismissal of the police personnel responsible for the brutality. The AIKS has also called for nationwide protests.

Some reports suggest that after being left down by what they dubbed as a fraudulent offer by government, the Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmer Welfare Arjun Munda on Wednesday again invited the farmer leaders for discussion on the MSP demand, crop diversification, stubble issue.

In a desperate attack indicative of the panic in government, the Union fovernment temporarily blocks 177 social media accounts, web links. The orders were issued by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology on February 14 and 19 at the request of the Ministry of Home Affairs under section 69A of the IT Act

PTI reported that the government has ordered temporary blocking of around 177 social media accounts and web links that are linked to the farmers' protest, according to sources. The orders were issued by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology on February 14 and 19 at the request of the Ministry of Home Affairs under section 69A of the IT Act.

"The orders have been issued to temporarily block 177 social media accounts and web links to maintain law and order on request of the Ministry of Home Affairs," the source said.

Links and accounts on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat and some other social media platforms have been ordered to be blocked. These accounts can be restored after the farmers' agitation is over, the source added.

At midday on Wednesday, the DIG of Patiala Range, HS Bhullar told the media on Wednesday said that the Haryana Police used 14 tear gas shells without any provocation as the farmers began their march towards Delhi from the Shambhu border. Bhullar said that has registered his protest with the Haryana Police regarding the same.

Meanwhile, farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, while speaking to farmers at the Shambhu border, said “You stay behind.. we shall lead the march. Let’s stop the machines and we shall walk.”

Earlier in the day, the Punjab and Haryana High Court refused to accept a plea by the Haryana government over farmers using heavy equipment ahead of the ‘Delhi Chalo’ protest march. “Politics is happening all over. Why didn’t Punjab stop these machines/protestors earlier? Courts are being used,” HC said while refusing the hearing. The Haryana government approached the High Court again on Wednesday, seeking directions to prevent farmers from moving ahead with their modified earth-moving equipment which pose security concerns in Haryana.

While addressing the media early this morning, farmer leaders Sarwan Singh Pandher and Dallewal urged the government to remove the barricades at the Shambhu border so the could march peacefully to Delhi and said that they were “ready to die in the interest of the nation.”

Protesting farmers are demanding that a Special Session of Parliament should be called to formulate MSP law, says Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ekta-Ugrahan) president. The Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ekta-Ugrahan) president Joginder Singh Ugrahan and General Secretary Sukhdev Singh Kokri Kalan, stated that a special session of Parliament should be called to formulate laws ensuring the guaranteed purchase of crops through MSP for all 23 crops. Farmers demand a peaceful resolution of the ongoing struggle, rejecting the aggressive measures of the central government to suppress the democratic voice of the protesting farmers, they said in a statement issued this afternoon.

Barricading Delhi for #FarmersProtests

Shocking reports of how Haryana and Delhi Police had geared up for the farmers’ march to Delhi, barricading at borders, provisions to block roads. On Tuesday, the Gurgaon Police arrested under section Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) Section(s) 107/151, and later released 38 farmers for violating orders under CrPC Section 144 in the state, after Manesar farmers called for a march towards Delhi. They were later released.

The Indian Expres reported in detail, multiple layers of barricading at borders with Haryana, provisions to block the road at Ghazipur border with Uttar Pradesh if the need arises — these are some of the measures the Delhi Police is keeping in place ahead of the scheduled march of farmers towards Delhi from Punjab on Wednesday morning following their rejection of the Centre’s five-year minimum support price (MSP) proposal.

On the march scheduled for Wednesday, Deputy Commissioner of Police (East) Mayank Gupta said that four law and order companies are ready with riot gear to restrict any movement and control disturbance. “But we are not expecting any disruption here. We are coordinating with the DCPs of South and Southwest Delhi along with those in the neighbouring districts of Gurgaon,” Gupta said, adding that there were no restrictions on traffic or any route diversion.

At the Panipat-Sonipat border, at least 400 officers along with two companies of Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) and one of Border Security Force (BSF) have been deployed, along with the installment of water cannons, barricades, and concrete barriers to prevent the protesters from marching towards the national capital. Other media reports in Indian Express  and Telegraph stated that the Gurgaon Police, meanwhile, has deployed officers at all its key borders including the Rajokri border on the Delhi-Jaipur Highway, Rewari, Pataudi-Jhajjar, Farrukhnagar-Jhajjar and Nuh borders. “Adequate force is on standby round the clock, and Gurgaon has not been affected by the protests so far, but we have enough officers deployed to prevent any untoward incident along the borders,” said an officer, requesting anonymity.

In Gautam Buddha Nagar, officials said that farmers would be given space from the Yamuna Expressway’s zero point to Surajpur collectorate, where farmers will line up on one side with their tractors.


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Farmers Protest: Union proposes contractual MSP for 5 years for three pulse crops, maize, and cotton, no law on MSP; farmer union to decide

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Farmers’ Protest: Physical repression, prohibitory orders, Delhi entry blocked – Déjà Vu?

Extension of internet bans, suspension of social media accounts: state action on farmers’ protest focuses on suppression of voices

Since the beginning of the ‘Delhi Chalo’ farmers’ protest, which was began on February 13, concerns regarding excessive state actions to repress independent media coverage of the protest and supress the voice of supporters of the farmers’ cause had been raised. Only a few days into the protest saw many ‘X’ (formerly Twitter) accounts, such as the Tractor to Twitter and Gaon Savera, digital news portals known for their vocal support of farmer’s rights being suspended by the social media platform. Even individual journalists, along the likes of journalist Mandeep Punia, saw their ‘X’ accounts being targeted and being withheld. These accounts were majorly involved in disseminating information about the ongoing farmers’ protest and providing on-ground reporting from the protest site.

These tactics of frequently intensifying state-censorship have an adverse impact on an individuals’ right to free speech and expression, guaranteed to every citizen of India under Article 19(1)(a) of the Indian Constitution. A post uploaded on ‘X’ by Alt News Fact Checker showed the number of ‘X’ accounts of ground reporters/influencers/prominent farm unionists covering Farmers Protest in India remain suspended in the country. Notably, most of these accounts are critical of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party government.

 

Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher has accused the Union government of suppressing the voice of the people by employing such tactics. Reportedly, the government had suspended the accounts of around 70 YouTubers who were showing farmers' protest. This suspension, along with imposition of internet bans and their continuation, ensures that on-ground reports from the protest sites do not reach the common people and it becomes easier for the state to spread disinformation. It is essential to note here that as per the latest notification, on the orders of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, the suspension of internet services has been extended in certain areas of some Punjab districts, including Patiala, Sangrur and Fatehgarh Sahib, till February 24. Earlier, the internet services were suspended from February 12 till February 16 in view of the farmers' 'Delhi Chalo' march.

As per a report in The Hindu Business Line, according to the Ministry's February 16 order, internet services will remain suspended in areas falling under Shambhu, Julkan, Passian, Patran, Shatrana, Samana, Ghanaur, Devigarh and Balbhera police stations in Patiala; Lalru police station in Mohali; Sangat police station in Bathinda; Killianwali police station in Muktsar; Sardulgarh and Boha police stations in Mansa; and Khanauri, Moonak, Lehra, Sunam and Chajli police stations in Sangrur; and areas under Fatehgarh Sahib police station. The aforementioned powers to suspend internet had been invoked by the Union government under the Telegraph Act of 1885.

Meanwhile, in the state of Haryana, the ban on mobile internet and bulk SMS services in seven districts had been extended till February 20 in seven districts, namely are Ambala, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Jind, Hisar, Fatehabad and Sirsa. The government had earlier extended the suspension on February 13, 15 and 17. Now that the farmers’ have declared that they will be resuming with their protest on the morning of February 21, the suspension of internet will presumably also be extended.

In addition to suspending the accounts of those involved or supporting the farmers’ protest, the ‘X’ account of prominent Tribal leader Hansraj Meena, a member of the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly, was also withheld. Along with him, the ‘X’ account of Tribal Army, who frequently reports on atrocities taking place against Tribal in India, also saw its suspension.

A statement by Internet Freedom Foundation had been released regarding the imposition of internet bans and suspension of social media accounts. Through the statement, the organisation that works on digital rights had said that “Reports also indicate that X/Twitter accounts documenting protests and alleged human rights violations are also being withheld in India, purportedly due to legal demands under the IT Act, 2000. However, authorities haven't disclosed these blocking orders, depriving individuals of the reasons for blocking and an opportunity to challenge their legality. This undermines both freedom of expression and the right to information. These actions reveal a disturbing trend of resorting to internet suspensions and online censorship in response to peaceful protests.”

With this, the organisation had urged for the unblocking of X/Twitter accounts of those who are closely documenting the protest and had also called upon the State Authorities to lift the ongoing internet suspension.

 

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Farmers Protest: Union proposes contractual MSP for 5 years for three pulse crops, maize, and cotton, no law on MSP; farmer union to decide

Late on February 18, during the fourth round of talks between the farmer leaders and union ministers, a key proposal by the Union has been tabled before the farmer leaders on the issue of a minimum support price guarantee. As has been reported by media, the said proposal states that government agencies would buy three pulse crops, maize, and cotton at MSP for five years after entering into a legal contract with farmers. Notably, the meeting held yesterday in Chandigarh had gone on for almost 5 hours, lasting late till 1.30 am.

The panel of three union ministers, namely Piyush Goyal (Food Minister), Arjun Munda (Union Agriculture Minister) and Nityanand Rai (Minister of State for Home Affairs), had been engaging in talks with farmer leaders Jagjit Singh Dallewal (convener of SKM non-political), Sarwan Singh Pandher (coordinator of the Kisan Mazdoor  Morcha) and Jarnail Singh in hopes to find a solution to the demands being raised by the farmers as a part of their ‘Delhi Chalo’ protest and the said proposal comes as the latest development. The union ministers and farmer leaders had met earlier on February 8, 12 and 15 but talks remained inconclusive.

As per the statement given by Goyal in regards to the proposal tabled, “The government promoted cooperative societies like NCCF (National Cooperative Consumers’ Federation of India) and NAFED (National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India) will form a contract for the next 5 years and buy products from the farmers on MSP. There will be no limit on the quantity.”

Goyal further emphasised on their “out-of-the-box thinking” in regards to this proposal as it focuses on diversification into pulses, cotton, and maize, with assurances of MSP without quantity limitations. To his press address, he added “This approach will save Punjab's farming, improve the groundwater table, and save the land, which is already under stress, from getting barren.” As per a report of the India Today, the Union Minister also mentioned that several policy matters discussed require broader representation and cannot be finalised immediately. He assured that these discussions would continue, taking into account the upcoming elections and the need for comprehensive policy solutions.

While the proposal can be deemed as a step forward by the union government, it does not fully cater to the demands being raised by the protesting farmers, which had asked for a law on MSP to be brought in that would provide a legal guarantee to all 23 crops of which the Union government decides MSP every year. It is in this view that after the proposal was tabled, the farmers refused to commit at the spot and sought time from the union ministers to discuss the proposal at their forums over the next two days and then decide the future course of action.

As per the report of the Wire, farmer leader Dallewal also addressed the media and stated that they will discuss the proposal by the government with their respective forums and experts and “Then, we will come to a conclusion.” Notably, the farmer leaders have also announced that their ‘Delhi Chalo’ protest will also be on stand-by till the farmers are perusing over the proposal. Pandher said a discussion on loan waivers and other demands is pending. It has been clarified by the farmer leaders that if no result is meted out by then on all issues, they will resume their protest from 11 am on February 21. As per media reports, farmer leader Pandher said, “Our ‘Delhi Chalo’ will continue from February 21 if no final result comes out in next two days. We have other demands apart from MSP.”

It is pertinent to highlight here that the ‘Delhi Chalo’ protest had begun on February 13 on the call made by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha- Non-Political and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, whereby more than 200 farmers’ unions, mostly from Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Punjab, were to march to Delhi to demand Union’s action on their long-standing demand of enactment of a law to guarantee MSP for their produce. Besides MSP, the farmers also demanded the implementation of the Swaminathan Commission’s recommendations which provided for safeguarding the interest of small farmers and addressing the issue of increasing risk overtaking agriculture as a profession. In addition to this, pensions for farmers and farm labourers, farm debt waiver, withdrawal of police cases and “justice” for victims of the Lakhimpur Kheri violence also form a part of the demands made. Lastly, farmers also demanded for 200 days’ daily wage and Rs 700 per daily wage for MNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act) workers.

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, who was also present at the talks on Sunday, advocated for crop diversification while also urging for the lifting of the internet suspension in certain areas. As per a report of the India Today, Mann stated that the next decisions regarding the government's proposals will come from the farmer unions. “The ball is now in the farmers' court,” he said, adding that "no door is closed" for further dialogue. It is essential to note that the suspension of internet services has been extended in certain areas of Punjab districts, including Patiala, Sangrur, and Fatehgarh Sahib, until February 24. The Haryana government has also suspended mobile internet services and bulk SMS in several districts, including Ambala, Kurukshetra, and Hisar.

Samyukt Kisan Morcha to continue with sit-in protests to maintain pressure on the government

Despite the temporary pause announced by the KMM and SKM (non-political) farmer leaders in the ‘Delhi Chalo’ protest, farmer leaders belonging to the Samyukta Kisan Morcha have announced further protests to maintain pressure on the government to meet their demands. As per the report of India Today, the farmers’ union plans to conduct mass protests outside the residences of Bharatiya Janata Party leaders in Punjab for three days, and make toll barriers free for commuters from February 20 to 22. The SKM National Coordination Committee and general body have also announced that they meet on February 21 and 22 to take stock of the situation and decide future plans of action to intensify the ongoing struggles.

Their main demand is for immediate action to be taken in accordance with the agreements that had been made by the union with the SKM on December 2, 2021, at the time of withdrawing the farmers’ protests against three farm laws. Notably, these MSP as recommended by the M.S. Swaminathan Committee, comprehensive loan waiver, no privatisation of electricity, dismissal and prosecution of Union Minister of State for Home Ajay Mishra Teni for his alleged role as a conspirator in Lakhimpur Kheri incident and stop the repression of farmers on the Punjab border.

As per a report of the Hindu, the SKM has also condemned the Narendra Modi government for legalising corruption through electoral bonds and piling up thousands of crores as party funds. This is in regards to the Supreme Court verdict delivered recently wherein they have held the Electoral Bond Scheme to be unconstitutional. As per the report, the SKM alleged that the pro-corporate farm Laws, labour codes, Electricity Act amendments, the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana in which insurance companies have amassed over ₹57,000 crores at the expense of farmers, pre-paid smart meters, sale of profit-making public sector undertakings, privatisation of airports and ports, a host of such legislation and policies are all favours returned to its corporate cronies. “The BJP had accumulated thousands of crores by legalising corruption, deployed it for toppling democratically elected governments as well as influencing elections through massive propaganda, impossible to match for any other political party. The SKM hopes that this verdict will also spur a movement to clear doubts over the EVM by making it a fool-proof mechanism,” the SKM said.

 

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Farmers’ Protest: Physical repression, prohibitory orders, Delhi entry blocked – Déjà Vu?

Day 5 of Farmers Protest: BKU (Ekta Ugrahan) holds sit-in protests outside houses of 3 Punjab BJP leaders, farmer leader Pandher demands Ordinance on MSP

As the farmers ‘Delhi Chalo’ protest enters its fifth day, and farmers are forced to stay confined at the two border points of Punjab and Haryana, namely the Shambhu and the Khanauri border points, and face water cannons and rubber pellets, news has emerged that the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) has decided to intensify their agitation further in coming days.

As per a report of the Indian Express, the Bharti Kisan Union (Ekta Ugrahan) are now holding protests outside the residences of three senior Bharatiya Janata Party leaders in the state of Punjab. A two-day dharna, starting February 17, will be held outside the house of BJP Punjab president Sunil Jakhar in Fazilka’s Panjkosi village. In addition to this, protests were also launched outside the houses of BJP leaders Captain Amarinder Singh in Patiala and Kewal Dhillon in Barnala.  These protests will be against the state brutality being shown to the farmers at the Shambu border, where many farmers have sustained serious injuries and one had died, as well as in support of the various demands being raised by them, including a legal guarantee for MSP.

In addition to these three sit-in protests, the union has also stated that they will be holding protests at toll plazas in the state as their extension of support to the "Delhi Chalo" call.

Meanwhile, the state is also intensifying their already excessive actions of suppression.

As per a report of the Hindustan Times, around 100 farmers from different farmers associations were arrested at Thanjavur Railway station, Tamil Nadu on the morning of February 17 as they tried to stage a 'rail roko' protest in front of the Cholan Express. The ‘rail roko’ protest is also in solidarity with the farmers' agitation in New Delhi and against the police action by Haryana Police.

In addition to this, on February 16, the Uttar Pradesh (UP) government invoked the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) and banned any strikes by government employees in all State government departments, corporations, and authorities for a period of six months. The said decision is another state tactic to repress dissent. Notably, ESMA gives the police the power to arrest any such employees found to be violating provisions and conducting strikes without a warrant and imprisonment for a term which may extend up to one year or a fine which may extend to ₹1,000 or both, to any person who instigated a strike which was illegal under the Act.

On the other hand, Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher has raised a demand for the union government to bring an Ordinance on giving a legal guarantee to Minimum Support Price (MSP). The demand comes a day before the fourth round of talks between farm leaders and Union ministers over their various demands.

As per the report of the PTI, Pandher pointed to the power that the union government hold in taking "political" decisions and said, "If it (Centre) brings an ordinance and it can bring it overnight, if it wants so. If the government wants resolution of farmers' protest, then it should bring out an ordinance with an immediate effect that it will enact a law on MSP, then discussion can proceed further."

 

Related:

Day 4 of Farmer Protest: Excessive state force at protestors leads to death of elderly farmer, first death to be reported as of now

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Day 3 of Farmers’ Protest: More than 100 farmers injured by rubber bullets, solidarity protests by BKU and SKM in Punjab

Farmers Protest: Braving tear gas, blockades, state obstructions, farmers journey towards Delhi to demand law on MSP

Farmers’ Protest: Physical repression, prohibitory orders, Delhi entry blocked – Déjà Vu?

Day 4 of Farmer Protest: Excessive state force at protestors leads to death of elderly farmer, first death to be reported as of now

Tragic news surfaced on the morning of February 16, with an elderly farmer passing away due to cardiac arrest. As reported by local journalists covering the farmers protest, a 65-year-old farmer from Punjab, namely Gyan Singh, died in the early hours of Friday after suffering from a heart attack. Singh had been a part of the ongoing ‘Dilli Chalo’ protest and had been at the protesting at the Shambhu border along with thousands of other farmers. The farmers have alleged that it was the tear gas that was being thrown at the protesters by the State that resulted in his death. As provided by Journalist Garvit Garg of Gaon Savera, “After being hit by tear gas shells, Singh was constantly having breathing troubles.”

Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher also spoke on the death of Gyan Singh and highlighted the issues that the protesting farmers are facing in accessing adequate medicines and food. Speaking to media, Pandher stated “Central government is the reason behind this agitation. We have a lot of people here (Shambhu border) participating in the protest including elders. We are facing difficulties in receiving medicines at the right time and even getting food, and resting.”

The video can be viewed here:

As per a report of the Indian Express, Singh hailed from Chacheki village in Gurdaspur district. Jagdish Singh, nephew of the deceased, provided that around 3 am on Friday, while Singh was sleeping in a trolley along with five other farmers about a kilometre away from the Shambhu barrier site, Gyan Singh reported feeling uneasy.

“We called the ambulance parked near Shambhu police station and took him to Rajpura civil hospital. However, he was referred to Rajindra Medical College, Patiala, as he was feeling breathless. Oxygen supply was given to him in the ambulance. By 5 am, we reached the medical college but he died at around 7.45 am at the hospital,” Jagdish stated while speaking to The Indian Express.

The news of the death of the elderly farmer had also been confirmed by the Patiala Deputy Commissioner Showkat Ahmad Parray. As per the IE report, Parray stated that “The farmer has died of cardiac arrest as per medical records.”

Gyan Singh’s nephew provided that the deceased was a bachelor and stayed with his nephews. The nephew Jagdish further elaborated upon the allegations of Gyan Singh having died due to inhaling tear gas that was thrown at the protesting farmers by the Haryana police and said that “On February 13, when shelling started, my uncle had gone near that location where tear gas shells were being lobbed. He inhaled it and had been feeling uneasy since then. He had even taken medicine from a stall set up by Khalsa aid…he was in the trolley since February 11 as we left our village on February 11, halted at Beas and reached Fatehgarh Sahib on February 12.”

A Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee member provided that the deceased Gyan Singh was a regular at protests and had also participated in the farmers agitation against farm laws in 2020-2021. Gurlal Singh, a KMSC member from Amritsar, provided that Gyan Singh had remained on borders for most of the time during the protest against the three contentious farm laws. Sarvan Singh Pandher, farmer leader and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) coordinator highlighted the injuries being caused by the excessive use of force by the State of Haryana and the union government and said, “The government needs to see how they should treat the farmers as they are on the roads protesting for their rights. Already, they have injured many of our farmers.”

It is essential to note that as the protest enters its fourth day, more than one hundred farmers have reportedly suffered serious injuries till now. As per a report of the Hindustan Times, these serious injuries have resulted in amputations, fractures and head injuries. As per a report of the Indian Express, three farmers have lost their vision from pellet injuries. The loss of eyesight occurred due to the farmers being hit in the eyes by rubber pellets by the Haryana Police on the Punjab-Haryana border to stop the farmers from marching towards Delhi.

Details of the third meeting between the farmer leaders and the union ministers

Meanwhile, the third rounds of talk that took place yesterday between the Union ministers and farmer leaders in Chandigarh yielded no result. As per the posts of Journalist Garvit Garg, the union ministers reached Chandigarh after 8 pm on February 15 for the said meeting that was supposed to take place at 5 pm. The third round of talks had taken place between Piyush Goyal (Food Minister), Arjun Munda (Union Agriculture Minister) and Nityanand Rai (Minister of State for Home Affairs) and the farmer leaders Jagjit Singh Dallewal, Sarwan Singh Pandher and Jarnail Singh.

The Red Mike journalist Saurabh Shukla also posted an interview with a farmer leader who was present at the said meeting. As narrated by the said leader, the union ministers did not have anything to say when they were shown the tear gas cans being thrown at the farmers and the rubber bullets being fired by the Haryana Police. Rather, the union minister reportedly dodged the questions by stating that these actions are being taken by the state of Haryana. It is pertinent to note here that the state government of Haryana is led by the Bharatiya Janata Party.

The farmer leader clearly stated that while many topics were spoken about at the meeting, the farmers held onto their demand for a law on the minimum support price (MSP) and stated that they will continue with their protest that the demand for MSP as well as other demands are met with. They leader also highlighted that the Punjab government has stated that they will bear the expense of the protests that are being hospitalised.

Answering to the question of industries and people being affected by the protest, the farmer leader clarified that the farmers had to march to Delhi and would have protested at the site allotted to them, but it is the government itself that is creating blockages for everyone. He further elaborated that their plan was to protest on one side of the road and not to block any roads. Notably, the union ministers have assured the farmer leaders that there will be a cease fire from the union and state governments till the talks are taking place.

The video can be viewed here:

Farmer leader Pandher also spoke to the media in regards to the meeting of the union ministers and the leaders and stated “We had the discussion with the ministers. We will call it a ‘decision’, only if they will practically implement everything that they have said to us in the meeting. It will be our last option to move forward if nothing happens ever after the talk and giving enough time to the government.”

The video can be viewed here:

Notably, the next round of talks is supposed to take place on 6 pm of Sunday at Chandigarh where the union ministers will be presenting a plan.

 

Related:

Day 3 of Farmers’ Protest: More than 100 farmers injured by rubber bullets, solidarity protests by BKU and SKM in Punjab

Farmers Protest: Braving tear gas, blockades, state obstructions, farmers journey towards Delhi to demand law on MSP

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Day 3 of Farmers’ Protest: More than 100 farmers injured by rubber bullets, solidarity protests by BKU and SKM in Punjab

Worrisome figures of farmers being injured and taken to the hospital emerged on February 15. As the farmers enter the third day of being denied the right to move freely and protest peacefully at the Haryana-Punjab borders, it has been reported that at least 100 farmers have been injured due to the relentless tear gas and rubber pellets being fired by the Haryana Police. As per a report of the Wire, even the journalists covering the farmers protest have not been spared and have faced injuries.

Heart-breaking videos and visuals of protesting farmers bleeding due to injuries caused by rubber bullets have surfaced on social media through various accounts.

 

As per a report of Tribune, the Punjab Government has put on alert all government hospitals in and around Shambu and also deputed medical teams and ambulances at the protest site to help the injured farmers. The government of Punjab also announced that it would bear treatment expenses of injured persons. Meanwhile, a report of the Wire provided that the Delhi Police, falling under the control of the union government, has placed an order for more than 30,000 tear gas shells to replenish its stock to be able to prevent the farmers from entering the national capital as part of its ongoing ‘Dilli Chalo’ protest.

It is also essential to note that while the attack on the protesting farmers is ongoing, a meeting between the farmer leaders and union ministers in Chandigarh began at 5 pm. It is essential to note that this is the third round of talks taking place between Piyush Goyal (Food Minister), Arjun Munda (Union Agriculture Minister) and Nityanand Rai (Minister of State for Home Affairs) and the farmer leaders Jagjit Singh Dallewal, Sarwan Singh Pandher and Jarnail Singh. The previous two rounds of dialogue between the union and the farmers, held on February 8 and 12, had remained inconclusive.

While the State is not backing down and is continuously attacking the protesting farmers and preventing them from reaching Delhi, the farmers too are braving through all these attacks. In dealing with these repressive and excessive tactics of the state government, the farmers have come up with their own unique protections and safeguards.

Hundreds of women protesters also reached Shambhu and were seen helping prepare langar for farmers. A protesting farmer provided to the media that they are organising a 'langar' at the Punjab-Haryana Shambhu Border, where goggles will be distributed among protesting farmers to help them protect from the tear gas shelling by the security forces.

Yesterday, on February 14, in attempts to deal with the drones throwing tear gas at the protestors, the farmers could be seen flying kites.

As per the report of the Hindu, Gagandeep Singh, a farmer protesting at the site, stated how they brought kites to the site to celebrate the festival of Basant Panchami, and ended up bringing the drone down. He said “We brought the kites to celebrate the festival, but then the drones came. Accidentally, the string of the kite got entangled with the fans of the drone, making it difficult for it to fly. We tried to pull it down, but it pulled back and fell on the other side of the barricades.”

Protestors could be seen wearing paddings to protect themselves from the rubber pellets being fired at them

Some farmers were seen applying a thick layer of toothpaste while others took to a mix of multani mitti (mud pack) and water to ease the burning sensation caused by tear gas. Some of them even brought along paddy winnowing fans to change the direction of the smoke emanating from the tear gas shells. Other farmers resorted to tying wet clothes over their faces.

Solidarity protest at toll plazas, ‘rail roko’ protest in Punjab

A four-hour rail roko protest was also organised today by farmer unions Bhartiya Kisan Union Ugrahan and Bhartiya Kisan Union Dakaunda to protesting against the Haryana government’s actions on the protesting farmers at Shambhu and Khanauri borders. The said rail roko protest was held at 15 locations in Punjab between 12 noon to 4 pm and disrupting several rail services as per the report of Indian Express. The IE report detailed that in view of the protest, Ferozepur railway division reported 3 cancellations, 6 diversions, 5 short terminations, and 5 short originations, affecting several routes.

As per the report, this joint protest was aimed to press the government to meet farmers’ demands. BKU Ugrahan President Joginder Singh Ugrahan emphasized unity despite ideological differences, urging the government to address farmers’ concerns promptly. BKU Dakaunda President Manjit Singh Dhaner expressed solidarity, condemning the Haryana government’s treatment of farmers.

Simultaneously, protests were also organised by SKM in solidarity with the protesting farmers at 39 toll plazas in Punjab which featured dharnas from 11 am to 1 pm. Dr. Darshan Pal, member of NCC of SKM, stated that general traffic remained unaffected, and tolls were made free for commuters during the protest. As per the IE report, Dr. Pal criticized the use of force against unarmed farmers and called for the government to implement accepted demands.

In addition to this, farmer leader Gurnam Singh Charuni (Bhartiya Kisan Union) has announced extension of support to the protesting farmers, and announced the new plans for the agitation. As per his statement to media reporters, Charuni has stated that three new decisions have been taken by the farmers in terms of their agitation, which are to make Haryana toll plazas ‘free’ for 3 hours on February 16, hold a tractor parade in every tehsil of the state on February 17, and organise a joint meeting of all farmers' organisations on February 18.

Not all authorities support the excessive use of force by Haryana Police

It is also essential to note that the excessive use of tear gas and rubber pellets by the Haryana police is not sitting well. As per a report of the Tribune, Patiala DC Showkat Ahmad Parray wrote to his Ambala counterpart objecting to drones carrying tear gas shells operating deep inside the territory of Patiala. His letter read, “Tear gas shelling using drones deep inside the territory of the district where police and administration teams are deputed is creating chaos. As such, I request you to immediately stop the use of drones.”

As per a report of the Telegraph, BJP leader Brijendra Singh, Member of Parliament from Hisar has also spoken in favour of the protesting farmers. Justifying the agitation, Hisar said that they have a right to protest against the non-implementation of the MSP regime that was promised after the last agitation.

"Who will not support the farmers who are struggling to get their income increased?" he said while talking to reporters as per the Telegraph report. He also expressed hope that the talks between the farmers' representatives and government functionaries will succeed in resolving the issue.

It is possible to bring a law on MSP- Economist Dr Madhura Swaminathan

In an interview with Rajdeep Sardesai, Dr Madhura Swaminathan, the daughter of Dr MS Swaminathan, firmly with the disagreed the contention, being spread and encouraged by many mainstream media houses, that a law on minimum support price (MSP) cannot be brought in as it may impact India fiscally. Rather, Dr Swaminathan clearly stated that “many economists are going to argue that this is going to be too expensive, like they did in the past in regards to universal food subsidy. We have to ask ourselves the question regarding this is- what does this mean? As you must know, India has one of the lowest Tax to GDP ratio. So, I think to put forth a statement, as many neo-liberal economists do, that you either spend in agricultural research or irrigation or MSP in view of the limited ‘kitty’ for agriculture and for farmers is a wrong way of posing the situation. So I don’t agree with the idea that MSP is not viable.”

She also shares how she was a part of a high-powered committee formed during the governance of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee which had, for the first time, submitted the proposal of a statutory MSP.

In the interview, she also termed the current excessive state actions being taken against the protesting farmers as “distressing” as it is these cultivators who perform the key role in providing food security to the country. She urged for the governments to negotiate with the farmers and address the concerns being raised by them as no nation can maintain their sovereignty without farmers.

When asked by Rajdeep on her opinion on some people, even from within the union government, terming the protesting farmers as anti-nations and Khalistanis, Dr Swaminathan emphasised that there is a justified reason behind the protest being held by the farmers. According to her, it is essential that the union government attends the emerging problems associated with climate change and its effect on agriculture while providing farmers with a sustainable income and ensuring profits. She stated, “one could say that it is perhaps the absence of policies that improve farmer incomes that have finally resulted in mass protests of this kind. We have to address the root causes of the problem of inadequate incomes of farmers.”

She further provided that the agricultural sector of India is not static and various union governments of India have been unable to give it the required attention. Elaborating upon the same, Dr Swaminathan says that these issues cannot just be addressed by negotiations, rather it necessitates for the union government to form a strategy that “serves farmers, and saves farming.”

The interview can be viewed here:

The aforementioned opinion of Dr Swaminathan set straight the record regarding bringing in a law on providing MSP to farmers. Her views are similar to the opinion put forth by Journalist Harish Damodaran in his article for the Indian Express, wherein he has deeply explained the what a guaranteeing MSP will cost the government. The marketed surplus of a crop is essentially the total production minus the amount retained by the farmers for self-consumption and meeting other needs.  Through his article, Damodaran has projected the cost of providing a legal guarantee on the marketed surplus of the crops for which an MSP is announced to be Rs 5 lakh crore. He has further explained how the actual cost is likely to be even lower than Rs 5 lakh crore owing to two reasons- firstly, the government will also be selling the material that they will buy directly from the farmers at the MSP, and secondly, the government will not be required to buy all the marketed surplus as by just buying a fourth of it will ensure that the market price will be lifted above the MSP level in case of most crops, as provided by Damodaran. Thus, as clarified by Dr Swaminathan and Damodaran, a legal guarantee on MSPs is doable and fiscally possible, and the fear being spread of the Indian economy plunging into bankruptcy is unfounded.

 

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Protesting farmers spend Basant Panchami facing government’s water cannons and tear gases’ government withholds social media accounts of farm leaders, journalists

"Don't treat farmers like they are criminals" said Dr. Madhura Swaminathan, Economist and daughter of Professor MS Swaminathan, while celebrating the conferring of Bharat Ratna award to her father, who was a global leader and an agricultural scientist. The said request was made in reference to the excessive and unjustified state action being taken against the farmers who are participating in the farmers march to Delhi to demand for a law guaranteeing minimum support price (MSP) for their produce along with six other demands. Ironically, one of the demands raised by the protesting farmers is for the implementation of the Swaminathan Commission’s recommendations that provided for safeguarding the interest of small farmers and addressing the issue of increasing risk overtaking agriculture as a profession. 

In her interview, Dr. Madhura Swaminathan could be further heard saying that "Today, the farmers of Punjab are marching to Delhi. There are jails being prepared, there are barricades and all kinds of things in place to prevent them. These are farmers, they are not criminals. I request all of you, the leading scientists of India, we must talk to our Annadatas (food providers). We cannot treat them as criminals. We have to find solutions, please, this is my request that if we have to continue to honour MS Swaminathan, we have to take the farmers with us in whatever strategy we are planning for the future."

Hopefully, the ones who conferred this prestigious award to Professor MS Swaminathan will also hear the pleadings of his daughter and take back the repressive and unjust tactics being employed against the unarmed farmers exercising their right to protest.  

The struggle to march to Delhi by farmers continues

Since yesterday, visuals of tear gas, water cannons and rubber pellets being fired at the protesting farmers have been surfacing from the Shambu border of Haryana. Even today, videos show the Haryana police relentlessly targeting the protesting farmers, fully determined to prevent the farmers from being able to reach the national capital. A report by the Hindu stated that the Haryana Police became the first police force in India to use drones to launch tear gas devices with the Haryana Police dropping tear gas shells from unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) on protesting farmers at Shambhu Barrier on the Punjab-Haryana boundary. As per the report, a police official has stated that the State government used drones made by Drone Imaging and Information Service of Haryana Limited (DRIISHYA), a public limited company incorporated in 2021. Interestingly, according to a Haryana government press release of April 4, 2023, the said drones had been designed for “surveying infrastructure projects, monitoring of agriculture and horticulture crops, and surveillance of sensitive areas for security purposes.” As per the report of the Hindu, the company is located at Karnal. 

Visuals of farmers flying kites at the border in attempts to tackle the drones have surfaced on social media. Ironically, the festival of Basant Panchami also falls today, on February 14. This festival is supposed to be joyfully celebrated by Sikhs and Hindus to mark the beginning of spring. The ones celebrating the festival wear yellow-coloured clothes to emulate the bright yellow mustard flowers in the fields. This year, the farmers had to spend it facing the state’s unjust display of power.

On February 14, a press note was also sent by the All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) to media personnel and others through which they have condemned the violent repression unleashed on farmers marching to Delhi at Shanbhu Border and other places. In the press note, the AIKS had stated “The use of drones to throw teargas, the concrete barricades, rubber bullets, huge iron spikes on the roads and the indiscriminate arrests of farmers and leaders exposes the barbaric face of the BJP Government led by Narendra Modi. The use of drones to drop tear gas on farmers shows the extreme vengeance that this BJP Government holds for the farmers of our country. AIKS warns the BJP Government to desist from such attacks on democratic right to protest. AIKS will join in unity with all democratic forces as well as the Samyukta Kisan Morcha and the Joint Platform of Central Trade Unions to resist such repressive measures. AIKS demands release of all arrested leaders and end repression.”

Along with this, the AIKS had called for the farmers to re-double their efforts in the upcoming protest of February 16 where the Samyukta Kisan Morcha, which had super headed the previous one year long farmers protest against the three controversial farm laws, have collaborated with ten Central Trade Unions (CTUs) to hold a rural and industrial strike.

The press note states “AIKS calls upon all its units to redouble efforts to rally farmers and workers as well as all democratic sections on 16th February across the country by also prominently taking a campaign on the repression unleashed along with other issues of the struggle. The incessant protests by farmers and workers are a result of repeated betrayals by Narendra Modi and the BJP Government. The move by the BJP Government to unleash violence on farmers is a sign of desperation. It is a clear sign that their divisive efforts of communal polarisation are being rebuffed by the farmers, workers and masses of our country. Its efforts to divert attention from people’s problems and livelihood issues, unemployment, poverty, hunger through communal polarisation and hate campaign is clearly failing. It is their sense of fear of the people’s unity that they are reacting in such a manner.”

‘X’ (formerly Twitter) accounts of those posting on the farmers protest withheld

As per multiple media reports, over a dozen social media accounts of farmer leaders and those posting updates on the farmer protests have been withheld by ‘X’ (formerly Twitter). As per a report of The Wire, X and Facebook accounts that were allegedly functioning as the official pages of farmers’ organisations and unions ahead of their ‘Delhi Chalo’ protest have been withheld in India – ostensibly upon government request.

It is pertinent to highlight here that the blocking of the social media accounts of farmers began even before their protest did. As per the report of the Wire, accounts of farmers were withheld on February 12. This ban on social media accounts is in addition to the prohibition on internet services as well as bulk SMS services being in place in seven districts of Haryana since February 11. 

Till now, X accounts and Facebook pages of prominent farmer leaders like Sarvan Singh Pandher, the coordinator of Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM), Tejveer Singh Ambala, the spokesperson of BKU (Shaheed Bhagat Singh), farmer leader Ramandeep Singh Mann, Surjit Singh Phull from BKU Krantikari, farmer leader Harpal Sangha, Ashok Danoda from Haryana and many others have been withheld. As per multiple media reports including the Wire, official pages which supported the movement and posted updates on it, like @Tractor2twitr_P run by Bhavjit Singh, Bhartiya Kisan Union (Shaheed Bhagat Singh) and Progressive Farmers Front, run by Guramneet Singh Mangat have also been banned. Notably, BKU (SBS) is one of the main farmer unions which was leading the farmers’ protest from Ambala, Haryana.

‘Gaon Sawera’, a page run by independent journalist Mandeep Punia has been withheld, as has been Mandeep’s personal page. Mandeep is a prominent name supporting the farmers’ protest and had been arrested in 2020.  Garvit Garg, another journalist from Gaon Savera is not providing frequent updates from the farmers protest.

It is important to highlight here that this is not the first time that the government of India has abused their powers and opaquely withholding social media accounts as even during earlier farmers’ protest of 2020, the Union government had banned many social media accounts including the official page of Kisan Ekta Morcha.

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Farmers Protest: Braving tear gas, blockades, state obstructions, farmers journey towards Delhi to demand law on MSP

Farmers’ Protest: Physical repression, prohibitory orders, Delhi entry blocked – Déjà Vu?

Farmer leaders detained in Madhya Pradesh, made to sit at police stations, saw police raids at night- attempts to stop farmers from joining protest intensify

Two journalists seriously injured amid Farmers’ Protests, DUJ condemns police action, ask for farmers demands to be settled

In a statement issued Wednesday afternoon, the Delhi Union of Journalists (DUJ) expressed deep concern that journalists are among those injured by police action during the farmers’ protests. Two journalists, Satender Chauhan and Niel Bhalinder Singh, suffered injuries while covering the protests at the Shambhu border yesterday.

Satender Chauhan, correspondent for Aajtak, was ‘live’ on the channel when he was hit by a ‘chharra’ in the eye area. The channel showed a colleague helping him to leave the spot. He was taken to hospital. Niel Bhalinder Singh of the Savera group of newspapers was taken to hospital bleeding heavily as a tear gas shell fired by a drone fell on his head. Unconfirmed reports have also come in regarding injuries to other journalists.

The Patiala Media Club and the Chandigarh Press Club have demanded safety for journalists covering such events. The DUJ is also concerned at the Internet shutdown imposed in seven districts of Haryana and three districts of Rajasthan which has made it extremely difficult for journalists to cover the protests. They also note that social media accounts of some journalists including Mandeep Punia of Gaon Savera have been taken down.

In this statement issued by Sujata Madhok President and AM Jigees, general secretary, the DUJ condemned the violence on protesting farmers that has led to injuries and hospitalizations. They urged the central government to ensure that the farmers’ demands are settled amicably.

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Farmers Protest: Braving tear gas, blockades, state obstructions, farmers journey towards Delhi to demand law on MSP

Farmers’ Protest: Physical repression, prohibitory orders, Delhi entry blocked – Déjà Vu?

Farmer leaders detained in Madhya Pradesh, made to sit at police stations, saw police raids at night- attempts to stop farmers from joining protest intensify

 

Farmers Protest: Braving tear gas, blockades, state obstructions, farmers journey towards Delhi to demand law on MSP

On the morning of February 13, the farmers began with their march towards the national capital to participate in the Farmers’ march to demand for a law guaranteeing minimum support price (MSP) for their produce along with six other demands, which include implementation of the Swaminathan Commission’s recommendations that provide for safeguarding the interest of small farmers and addressing the issue of increasing risk overtaking agriculture as a profession, pensions for farmers and farm labourers, farm debt waiver, withdrawal of police cases and “justice” for victims of the Lakhimpur Kheri violence also form a part of the demands made. A demand for 200 days’ daily wage and Rs 700 per daily wage for MNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act) workers also form a part of their demands. 

But, for those who began their march in northern Haryana and Punjab states, the journey to reach Delhi will be not easy as extensive attempts to stop the farmers are being made by the state and union governments. Visuals from the Haryana border have been surfacing since the morning, showcasing the repressive tactics being used by the Haryana government, including tear gas, water cannons and even rubber pellets, while stopping the farmers from joining their peaceful march and exercise their right to protest. As was reported yesterday, Haryana police had sealed multiple entry points into the capital with barriers of giant metal containers, barbed wire, spikes and cement blocks and had even suspended internet service and bulk SMS services in some districts of Haryana state. 

Today, the Haryana police indulged in dropping tear gas canisters on the protesting farmers from a drone at one of the border points in northern Haryana state that leads to New Delhi. Pictures emerged on social media that showed thick clouds of tear gas being used to disperse the farmers near the city of Ambala.

Here are some visual from the ground. These visuals show protestors being detained by the police. 

The farmers could be seen braving through these state tactics of suppression.

The unjustified usage of such state actions against unarmed farmers was unproportional as the farmers and the leaders of the farmers union kept reiterating their objective of peacefully protesting for their demands. Sarvan Singh Pandher, general secretary of the Punjab Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee told ANI news agency that "We will move peacefully and our objective is that the government listens to our demands."

He additionally said “We do not want to break any barricades. We want a resolution of our issues through dialogue. But if they (the government) do nothing, then what will we do? It is our compulsion.” 

A video of Pandher can be viewed here:

A group of Tamil Nadu farmers in Trichy also lent support to 'Delhi Chalo' farmers' protest. These farmers could be seen sitting on a road and exercising their right to protest and show solidarity freely and without any state interference. In a video, farmer leader P Ayyakannu can be heard saying, "As per the Constitution, we can move freely within the country for our rights but the police are not allowing farmers to protest in Delhi. If PM Modi contests from any constituency in Tamil Nadu in the coming elections, then farmers will file nomination against him from that constituency."

His video can be viewed here:

Bharatiya Kisan Union president and Farmer leader Naresh Tikait also showed his solidarity and support with the protesting farmers, urging for the Modi-led union government to hold talks with the farmers, alleging that the Bharatiya Janata Party’s “stubborn approach” is proving to be dangerous. He stated that "Protests are underway in the entire country...The government should sit with us and hold discussions and give respect to the farmers. Government should think about this issue and try to solve this." The BKU also chief wondered whether the farmers will always be in the agitation mode, blocking roads or heading towards Delhi.

His video can be viewed here:

Farmer leader Rakesh Tikait also extended his support for the protesting farmers and said that if the BJP-led Haryana government or the Union government tried to create problems for these farmers then he is not far from them and could join the protest anytime.

“MSP guarantee law and Swaminathan Committee report, Electricity amendment bill and debt waiver are the issues of the farmers across the country. There are several farmer unions and they have different issues. If the government creates a problem for these farmers who are marching towards Delhi, we are not far from them. We are in support of them," Rakesh Tikait could be heard telling ANI. 

His video can be viewed here:

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Farmers’ Protest: Physical repression, prohibitory orders, Delhi entry blocked – Déjà Vu?

Farmer leaders detained in Madhya Pradesh, made to sit at police stations, saw police raids at night- attempts to stop farmers from joining protest intensify

Farmer leaders detained in Madhya Pradesh, made to sit at police stations, saw police raids at night- attempts to stop farmers from joining protest intensify

Since the morning of February 11, social media is full of videos and photos showcasing the security measures being employed by the state government of Haryana and the union government against the protestors gearing up for the ‘Chalo Delhi’ march to be scheduled to take place on February 13. Reports show the repressive tactics that the State is using in attempts to prohibit the protesting farmers from reaching Delhi, which include imposition of internet shutdown, sealing of borders, cement barricades, spikes, barbed wires and deployment of paramilitary forces, as they prepare for the scheduled protest. Notably, a petition has been moved before the Punjab and Haryana High Court challenging these aforementioned "obstructive actions" of the Union and State governments with the objective of "preventing the farmers from exercising their constitutional right to assembly and protest peacefully."

The said plea has been moved by Uday Pratap Singh, a Chandigarh based lawyer, to urge judicial intervention and issuance of an urgent interim order to stay these “obstructive actions”. It is also essential to note that through the said petition, the plea has also raised questions against the suspension of mobile internet services and bulk SMS in several districts of Haryana including Ambala, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Jind, Hisar, Fatehabad, and Sirsa. As per a report of LiveLaw, the petition has highlighted that these suspension of services "further exacerbate the situation, depriving the citizens of their right to information and communication."

The petitioner has also emphasised upon the constant denial of the authorities to hear and take action on the demands being raised by the farmers in regards to Minimum Support Price. As per a report in LiveLaw, the petitioner has stated "The arbitrary and illegal non-payment of Minimum Support Price sparked a deep sense of discontentment and betrayal among the hardworking farmers of the state. This unjust decision inflicted trauma upon the impoverished farming community. Despite the farmers' pleas for the government to honour their rightful demand for at least the minimum support price (MSP) for their produce, the authorities have turned a deaf ear to their concerns." 

Claiming the actions being undertaken by the State to be violative of the fundamental rights of citizens to move freely and assemble peaceful, guaranteed to citizens under Article 19 of the Constitution, the petitioner seeks for an independent inquiry into alleged arbitrary actions, including police intimidation and installation of obstacles.

Meanwhile, a meeting between the farm leaders and three members of the Union cabinet is supposedly taking place in Chandigarh. These ministers, namely Piyush Goyal (Food Minister), Arjun Munda (Union Agriculture Minister) and Nityanand Rai (Minister of State for Home Affairs), are holding a second round of these talks with the farmer leaders to address their concerns and demands. It is essential to note that at the first talk, the three ministers had told the farmers that their demands could not be accepted without consulting multiple Ministries.

Many detained, many face hurdles in reaching Delhi

As per a report of The Telegraph, around a hundred farmers from Karnataka, who were travelling in train to Delhi with the aim of taking part in the scheduled protest, were stopped at Bhopal by the state police. These claims were made by Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) South India Convenor Shanthakumar during a press conference. As per the report, Shanthakumar stated that he was also travelling with the group in the train and "the police stopped us at the Bhopal station, and some of our members were injured," as per Telegraph. Shanthakumar also provided that he was somehow able to reach the national capital still.

At the same conference meeting, Shanthakumar also clarified that around 23 Mahapanchayat meetings had been held across the country before announcing the march, and the protest had been planned three months before and were not spontaneous.

As per a report of the Hindu, SKM- Non-Political leader Shiv Kumar Kakka, who is also a former RSS functionary, had been detained by the Madhya Pradesh police on February 11. Kakka was on his way to Chandigarh when the said arrest had taken place. As per his statement, Kakka was about to board a train to participate in the second round of talks with the union ministers. According to the Hindu report, Kakka said “I was about to board a train to Chandigarh to participate in Monday’s discussions. I was arrested and taken to the police station. I understand that hundreds of SKM-NP’s activists have also been sent to jail. I was released after three hours. But I will go to Chandigarh at any cost to participate in the protests. The Centre is vitiating the atmosphere by arresting farmers.” 

A report of Naiduniya reported that farmer leaders of the United Kisan Morcha and its associated organizations were being arrested in different districts of Madhya Pradesh. The report asserts that about 150 farmer leaders of the state have been detained at the police station, while many are being sent to jail. As provided by the report, Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) state president Anil Yadav was arrested from MP Nagar Bhopal police station, Mahendra Singh Tomar from Rajgarh, senior Kisan Sabha leader Ramnarayan Kureria from Jabalpur. District Vice President of Kisan Sangharsh Committee in Gwalior, Shatrughan Yadav and Shiv Kumar Kakka have been arrested in Bhopal. 

Rakesh Tikait, farmer leader and national spokesperson of BKU, took to ‘X’ (formerly Twitter) to express his anguish at the arrest of farmer leaders by the authorities of Madhya Pradesh and demand their release. In his post, Tikait stated “On the instructions of the Central Government, the state president of Madhya Pradesh Anil Yadav and Aradhana Bhargava have been arrested by the police and sent to jail. The government wants to make Bharat Bandh unsuccessful and suppress the voice of farmers. The government should release them with immediate effect.”

His post can be viewed here:

In addition to this, Indore saw leaders associated with farmer organizations being made to sit in the police station, including the Depalpur and Saver police stations, on the morning of February 12. It was asserted by them that the arrests of the farmer leaders were a part of the government’s attempt to stop the march to Delhi by the United Kisan Morcha on February 13 and to suppress the call for Gramin Bharat Bandh on February 16. It has been alleged by many that the state police also arrested houses of farm leaders late in the evenings of February 11. 

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah also posted on ‘X’ regarding the detention of the famer leaders and highlighted the intimidation tactic of the BJP-led state government of Madhya Pradesh. In his post, Siddaramaiah condemned the said detentions and wrote “By arresting and intimidating them, the farmers' struggle cannot be suppressed. Such repression might only lead more farmers to take to the streets, but the struggle of the sons and daughters of the soil will not cease. If the central government truly cares about peace and order, it should immediately meet the demands of the farmers and resolve the issue, rather than repressing and brutalizing them to silence. Whether it's at the center or in the states, whenever BJP comes to power, history bears witness that their first act of aggression is against the farmers. The first time BJP came to power in Karnataka, farmers asking for fertilizer were ruthlessly shot down by the government led by B.S. Yediyurappa. Several farmers died due to the violence inflicted on protesting farmers in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh by Narendra Modi's government at the center.”

His post can be viewed here:

Another protest by farmers announced, this time by SKM

The original SKM, which had super headed the previous one year long farmers protest against the three controversial farm laws, have also announced a rural and industrial strike on February 16, in collaboration with ten Central Trade Unions (CTUs). As per the report of the Hindu, in a joint statement here on Sunday, the SKM and the unions urged the Narendra Modi-led union government to learn lessons from the growing discontent among the farming community and workers of European countries and reconsider its pro-corporate policies, which are being intensified in India.

“SKM has strongly objected to the policy proposed by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to permit corporate forces, including trans-national corporations, to take over post-harvest operations in agriculture, control and dominate food production, and the value-added consumer product market. Corporate agriculture is not a panacea for the agrarian crisis; rather, it will further deteriorate the plight of the farmers and workers in India,” the statement said.

In furtherance to this, the SKM has also asserted said that the rural bandh on February 16 would take place from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m., with all agricultural activities, works under MGNREGA scheme, and other rural and farm works being boycotted. “The supply and purchase of vegetables, other crops will remain suspended; all the village shops, grain markets, vegetable markets, government and non-government offices, rural, industrial and service sector institutions and enterprises in private sector are requested to remain closed. The shops and establishments of towns remain closed for the strike hours,” the SKM said, as per the Hindu, adding that normal public and private transport would remain off the roads.

“Ensure passage to emergency services of ambulance, death, marriage, medical shops, newspaper supply, board exam candidates, and passengers to the airport,” the SKM said in the statement.

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Farmers' Protest: Physical repression, prohibitory orders, Delhi entry blocked - Déjà Vu?

The proposed farmers’ protest, namely ‘Chalo Delhi’, to be held on February 13 has shaken the union and the state governments once again, resulting in the governments employing repressive tactics against the protesting farmers in attempts to stop them from entering Delhi. From sealing of borders, cement barricades, converting stadiums into make-shift prisons to imposing prohibitory orders, deploying para-military and imposing internet shutdowns, the state and union governments are leaving no stone unturned from ensuring that the protests do not take place.

This is reminiscent of the farmers’ protest of the year 2020, while the country was grappling with corona virus, farmers of India were protesting against the controversial farm laws that had been introduced by the Modi government, demanded for its repeal. Their protest of one year, which also saw the union and the state government employing repressive and violent tactics and resulting in the loss of many protestors, , had reaped results with the union government taking back the three laws in November of 2021. The farmers, who had welcomed the decision with opens arms on the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak, had even then said that their fight is far from over as their union government is yet to address their demands.

It is essential to highlight here that on the evening of February 8, a three-membered team of Union ministers, namely Piyush Goyal, Arjun Munda and Nityanand Rai, had held a detailed discussion with the leaders of farmer organisations. As per the Week, the said meeting had also saw the attendance of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. As stated by Jagjit Singh Dallewal, representing the farmers union, "We had a meeting with the Government today. The meeting was held in a positive atmosphere, Punjab Govt took the initiative. We presented all our demands in detail, with facts...The government listened to us & said that they will examine all our facts seriously."

It was also provided by the leader that while the union ministers have assured them that they would hold a second round of the meeting soon, their proposed ‘Delhi Chalo’ march on February 13 still stands.

"Our programme for 13th February will continue as it is", Dallewal had asserted.

The second meeting with the same three union ministers is to be held today, on February 12, at 5 pm in Chandigarh as provided by Punjab Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee general secretary Sarvan Singh Pandher.

The march, the demands

The Samyukta Kisan Morcha- Non-Political and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha had recently announced ‘Delhi Chalo’ march by more than 200 farmers’ unions, mostly from Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Punjab, on February 13 to demand from the union government to accept their long-standing demand of enactment of a law to guarantee a minimum support price (MSP) for their produce. A gathering of lakhs of participants in the protest is being anticipated. It is crucial to point out that that a law on MSP by the union government was one of the conditions that the farmers had set when they agreed to withdraw their agitation in 2021. Even after more than two years, the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Union government is yet to deliver their promises.

To provide a brief of the importance of MSP, a minimum support price is the rate at which the government buys farm produce and is based on a calculation of at least one and a half times the cost of production incurred by farmers.

Besides a legal guarantee for minimum support price (MSP), the farmers are also demanding implementation of the Swaminathan Commission’s recommendations which provided for safeguarding the interest of small farmers and addressing the issue of increasing risk overtaking agriculture as a profession. In addition to this, pensions for farmers and farm labourers, farm debt waiver, withdrawal of police cases and “justice” for victims of the Lakhimpur Kheri violence also form a part of the demands made. As provided by Mandeep Punia, a local journalist from Punjab and Haryana, they farmers have also raised a demand for 200 days' daily wage and Rs 700 per daily wage for MNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act) workers.

 The preparation by governments to impede, supress protest

Haryana: To join the march in Delhi, farmers have planned to come from the Ambala-Shambhu border, Khanauri-Jind and the Dabwali border. As per multiple media reports, ahead of farmers proposed ‘Delhi Chalo’ march, 50 companies of central paramilitary forces have been deployed by the Haryana Police with the aim of “maintaining law and order” in the state. As per a report on India Today, the authorities asserted the reason behind using paramilitary force is to ensure that nobody will be allowed to disturb peace and harmony. Notably, these central paramilitary forces comprise of Rapid Action Force and Central Reserve Police Force.

As per the statement given by a senior Haryana Police officer to the PTI, request for deploying 65 companies as paramilitary force had been made but only 50 were given. The officer stated that “Where these forces need to be deployed, we have done that.”

The India Today report also provides that the police have asked the farmers to not participate in the march without attaining the required permission and have also warned of strict action if they damage public property. Threats of compensation of any loss to government property caused to be compensated by attaching the property and seizing bank accounts of the protesters have also been issued by the police officials. Furthermore, they have also cautioned the farmers from giving their vehicles on rent or to any farmer, threatening to impound such vehicles and cancel its registration.

A video of police officials going around villages in the state and making such threats also surfaced on social media. In the video, posted by a local reporter named Mandeep Punia, police can be heard using a loud speaker and stating that any villager is found to be participating in the protest will have strict action taken against them, have their vehicles seized and their passports cancelled.

The video can be viewed here:

It is critical to emphasise here that to stop the farmers from protesting, as provided by the India Today report, the police have stocked up concrete blocks, barbed wire, sandbags, barricades and other items at the Shambhu border in Ambala to stop the protesters from marching towards the national capital. As per officials, directions have been issued by police official to petrol pump dealers in Ambala for not giving fuel to those who are sporting farmer’s union flags on their vehicles. Additionally, the police officials have stated that water cannon vehicles and drone have also been deployed at the Shambhu border. The Ambala district magistrate has imposed Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) in the district. These repressive tactics by the state come as the farmer unions in Ambala make preparations for the ‘Delhi Chalo’ march.

As per a report in the Livemint, the BJP-led state government of Haryana has also made other elaborate arrangements besides security, and have sealed the state's border joining Punjab with barbed wires and concrete blocks to hamper the proposed 'Dilli Chalo' march by the agitated farmers. According to the statement of a senior police official in Jind district, from the India Today report, arrangements to seal entry point from Punjab include barbed wires, containers, barricades and concrete blocks, etc. In furtherance to this, the Haryana government has also suspended internet services in seven districts of the State from February 11 till February 13 and has ordered for bulk SMS services to be suspended. As per India Today, till the writing of this report, services have been suspended in districts including Ambala, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Jind, Hisar, Fatehabad and Sirsa.

Visual from Shambhu border can be viewed here:

As per the report of Times of India, the Haryana police had laid a five layered barricading at the Nation Highway with concrete blocks, jersey barriers, spikes, barbed wires and iron barricades. The same can be viewed through the video:

Notably, as per the TOI report, a mock drill had also been conducted by the Haryana police at Shambhu Border wherein the police had fired tear gas shells at some youth who had gathered on Punjab side.

Delhi: On February 11, an order imposing Section 144 of the CrPC was issued by the Delhi Police through which large gatherings were prohibiting at all borders between the national capital and Uttar Pradesh, as per Hindustan Times. The same prohibitory orders have also been imposed in areas under the jurisdiction of the North-East Delhi district. Under the said order, vehicles carrying protestors from entering Delhi have also been banned. It is essential to note that the orders imposed in Delhi will be active from February 11, Sunday, and will remain in place till March 11, 2024.

“Information has been received that some farmer organisations have given a call to their supporters to gather/march to Delhi on 13th February for their demands of the law on MSP and others. They are likely to sit at the border of Delhi till their demands are met. In order to avoid any untoward incident and to maintain Law & Order, a precautionary Order of section 144 Criminal Procedure Code, 1973, is required to be issued to save the lives and property in the area", Delhi Police told ANI.

The social media post can be viewed here:

Make-shift jails for those detained:

As per a report of the NDTV, the Haryana government has converted two large stadiums, namely the Chaudhary Dalbir Singh Indoor Stadium in Sirsa, and Guru Gobind Singh Stadium in Dabwali, into makeshift jails ahead of the planned march with the objective of them serving as temporary jails to keep detained farmers. As provided in the said report, sources have stated that in case of any untoward situation during the march, farmers who are detained or arrested in large numbers will be kept in the temporary jails.

Media not allowed to cover protest:

As per the report of TOI, even media coverage has not been allowed by the Ambala police, as media persons from the Haryana side were prohibited from reaching the Shambhu border to see the situation and cover the matter. The media persons were stopped at Devi Nagar toll plaza. Furthermore, some media-persons who tried to do coverage from the Patiala, Punjab side, were also stooped and asked to leave the spot by the Haryana police officials.

Refusing to bow down, farmers gear up for protests

Videos of farmers proceeding towards Delhi, in the face of the coercive state employed tactics, have been surfacing on social media. In one such video, police can be seen standing beside the barricades that have been put on the road to restrain farmers from joining the march. As the barricades stand, a tractor going around those barricades with the police unable to stop the protestors from exercising their fundamental right to protest can be seen. Many more protestors can then be seen coming after the tractor, removing the barricades itself and carrying on with their journey to join the march in Delhi.

The video can be viewed here:

Opposition, leaders raise questions on laying of spikes, cement barricades

Aam Aadmi Party leader and Chief Minister of Punjab Bhagwant Mann has urged the Centre to listen to farmers’ demands instead of setting up “borders between India and Punjab”. Expressing his anguish, Mann said “They [Haryana government] are installing fencing on the Punjab border. I request the central government to engage in talks with farmers. Please avoid creating an India-Punjab ‘border’.”

The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) also slammed the state government’s attempts of blocking of roads. "Why is the government scared? Huge barricading is being done. Is this democracy?" SKM leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal rather stated in a message that "If the situation turns bad, it will be the responsibility of the Khattar government."

Indian National Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi took to ‘X’ (formerly Twitter) and wrote that putting such hurdles in the path of farmers is state government’s injustice to their cause. In her post, she said “laying spikes and thorns in the path of farmers is it Amrit Kaal or injustice time? Due to this insensitive and anti-farmer attitude, 750 farmers lost their lives. What kind of characteristic is it of the government to work against the farmers and then not even allowing them to raise their voice? Priyanka said that the central government neither made the MSP law for the farmers nor doubled the income of the farmers. In such a situation, if the farmers do not come to the government, where will they go? He asked the Prime Minister, why is the country’s farmers being treated like this? The promise made to the farmers was not fulfilled.”

The post can be viewed here:

 

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Farmers in Noida, Greater Noida are protesting, which are the farmer unions are leading them

An impressive gathering of farmers from more than 140 villages in Noida and Greater Noida have been seen marching towards Parliament on Thursday after the demands of three farmer unions to resolve their longstanding issues related to land acquisitions have yet to be met. Social media, ‘X’ is flooded with images of impressive tractor rallies and the usual comments from the media of this causing a “traffic snarl.”

At present, there four protests are going on in the Gautam Buddha Nagar district of Uttar Pradesh. The Jai Jawan Jai Kisan organisation heads the protest against the Ansal builders, All India Kisan Sabha against Greater Noida Authority and Bharatiya Kisan Parishad at National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) headquarters in Sector 24 and Noida Authority in Sector 6.

All these organisations have together called a Mahapanchayat on Wednesday at the Greater Noida Authority office, where a decision was taken to march to Parliament on Thursday, demanding the resolution of their issues in a time-bound manner.

The farmers have two major demands. First, as compensation for their land acquired by the authorities for different developmental projects, they demand 10 per cent of residential plots for their families on the developed land.

The farmers also argue that most of their land was acquired making them landless. They ask how their families and future generations would survive even as the government boasts of development by taking their land.

Presently, the Noida Authority grants the farmers 5 per cent of the total acquired land, which they have termed insufficient. The Greater Noida Authority gives them 6 per cent of the developed plot while the Yamuna Authority gives them 7 per cent as land acquisition compensation.

In addition, farmers have demanded additional monetary compensation — amounts based on market rates when the land was acquired for different projects. The farmers allege that their land was acquired many years ago at a cheap rate and they are suffering even now as a consequence.

The farmers have also been demanding jobs and medical facilities for their families for the last several months. The Authority officials said they are in talks with farmer leaders and an amicable solution would be reached soon.

Massive Repression by UP Police

Meanwhile a press release  of the All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) stated that despite the fact that several leaders were put under house arrest, the protest was successful

 Farmers and landless from various villages under the leadership of All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) Gautam Buddha (GB) Nagar district committee, Bharatiya Kisan Parishad and other organisations began the rally on the Yamuna Expressway but were soon barricaded by the UP Police.

The repressive measures of the UP governmenthad started the night before when AIKS GB Nagar district president Comrade Rupesh Verma and convenor Comrade Veer Singh Nagar were arrested and taken to Dadri police station. District president of the AIKS, Jagbir Namberdar has been put under house arrest, along with other leaders. In a disproportionate manner, the UP police also stopped the people from Sadhopur village who were en masse joining the Parliament March and put them in an open jail in a public park. These incidents show the anti-democratic attitude of the UP government towards the rural population of Greater Noida states AIKS

Despite the repression, farmers were able to reach the Yamuna Expressway and are currently blocking the expressway at the police barricading. Their immediate demand is that the UP police must release the leadership as well as release the jailed farmers of Sadhopur village, which include women and elderly as well.

The farmers and landless of the region have been holding sit-in protessat the Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority (GNIDA) and Noida Industrial Development Authority (NIDA) headquarters since 2023 demanding fair compensation according to the provisions of the Land Acquisition Act 2013, return of 10% developed land, lease-back of acquired abadi land, permanent employment for affected families, 40 square metre plots for landless families, and other demands. After a 120-day protest by AIKS at GNIDA office last year, the CEO had accepted a number of these demands. But despite more than four months passing since, the UP government failed to implement any of the accepted demands. This has enraged the farmers who not only restarted their indefinite dharna at the GNIDA office but also gave a call banning entry of any political leader, MLA or MP associated with the BJP from entering the villages in Greater Noida.

The AIKS, through ots secretary, Vijoo Krishnan has demanded that all the arrested and detained be released from police custody immediately and that the UP government hold discussion with the leadership of the farmers.


Related:

Tractor parade by SKM on Republic Day in 500 districts, farmers to take pledge to protect the principles of democracy, federalism, secularism and socialism

To expose ‘lies’ of Narendra Modi-led BJP govt on MSP for rabi crops, farmers to protest during forthcoming state polls

SKM: Farmers to protest against union government’s attempt to undermine farmers’ protest through Newsclick FIR 

 

Tractor parade by SKM on Republic Day in 500 districts, farmers to take pledge to protect the principles of democracy, federalism, secularism and socialism

On January 26, Republic Day, 500 districts of India will see a tractor parade being held by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), a collective of farmers unions that spearheaded the historic struggle against three farm laws. An official statement made by the SKM on December 28 provided that pursuant to the conclusion of the formal Republic Parade in Delhi, a tractor parade will be held at a district level in all states and Union Territories across the length and breadth of the country.

The statement provided that "SKM shall hold tractor parade on January 26, 2024 at district level in all states and Union territories. It is expected that the parade shall be held in at least 500 districts. SKM appeals to farmers to join the parade in great numbers and after the conclusion of the formal parade at Delhi, the tractor parade will be held.”

The statement also provided that the parade will have the participants fly high the national flag of India and take a pledge to protect the principles of democracy, federalism, secularism and socialism. The statement provides “The farmers participating in the parade will fly-high the national flag along with the flags of the constituent organisations. Farmers will take pledge to protect the principles of democracy, federalism, secularism and socialism enshrined in the Constitution of India. Along with tractors, other vehicles and motorcycles will also join the parade.”

In addition to this, the SKM state units in 20 states have also launched a campaign named ‘Jan Jagran Yatra’ with the aim of making people aware about their ongoing campaign for minimum support price (MSP) as per Swaminathan commission recommendation. The constituent organisations of SKM have been demanding MSP equivalent to 1.5 times of comprehensive cost, including all inputs like fertilisers, herbicides, pesticides, diesel, rent and harvesting.

The SKM statement read that the campaign is “against the Modi government’s corporate raj-based development, dependent on GDP rate, and its narrative of India becoming $3 trillion- economy, which “hides the decline in the per capita income, growing income inequality and denial of minimum support price to farmers and minimum wage to workers.”

The statement provided that between January 10 to 20 of 2024, the campaigners will go door-to-door visits to distribute leaflets that will "expose the pro-corporate economic policies" of the Narendra Modi led union government. As per a report in Newsclick, the other issues to be highlighted are a one-time loan waiver and halt to privatisation of the electricity sector. These leaflets will highlight the policies being implemented by the union government that are detrimental to the interest of farmers, workers and people at large, causing large scale unemployment, uncontrolled price rise, poverty, indebtedness and unbridled rural to urban migration. As per the report, the issue of termination of Minister of State for Home Affairs Ajay Mishra, whose son is an accused in the mowing down of farmers in Lakhimpur Kheri, will also be raised in the same mass campaign.

“The farmer and worker activists will visit households and distribute leaflets and ensure massive participation of the people in the forthcoming joint and coordinated struggle actions against corporate exploitation under the patronage of RSS-BJP rule. State level coordination committees will meet immediately to prepare for the campaign to target to cover at least 40% of the 30.40 crores households”, the statement read.

As per the statement given by Senior SKM functionary P. Krishnaprasad to The Hindu, the aim behind this campaign is to reach out to at least 12 crore people during these ten days on the issues of livelihood to challenge the “communal narrative” of BJP.

The call raised by the SKM leaders to farmers all across India is to make this mass campaign and the tractor parade a grand success to ensure the removal of "the corporate-communal nexus that exploits and divides people through communal and casteist polarisation".

The statement also asserted that the farmers’ struggle will intensify till all their demands are met by the union government.

As per the Newsclick report, Ashok Dhawale, president of All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS), stated that the Morcha (protest) has put onus on both the Union government as well as the Opposition to clear their stand on MSP and other demands.

“We had to launch the campaign because the BJP government has not fulfilled its promise of forming committee with mandate to ensure legal status of MSP. The farmers unions are also asking the parties in the opposition to clear their stands as far as these demands are concerned,” he said, as per the report.

Jagmohan Singh, secretary, Bharatiya Kisan Union-Dakaunda, also informed Newsclick over that the detailed plan of the campaign and the national convention will be made public after the meeting of Punjab-based farmers unions on January 2.

 

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Haryana: Outraged, farmers groups demand minister’s ouster for demeaning remarks on wives of farmers

To expose ‘lies’ of Narendra Modi-led BJP govt on MSP for rabi crops, farmers to protest during forthcoming state polls

  1. Farmers Protest: Three more protesting farmers die due to breathing problems; total death toll rises to 10

  2. RSS must stop demonising farmers’ movement: AIKS

  3. United they stand: ‘Kisan-Mazdoor Mahapanchayat’ at Ramlila Maidan sees a wave of farmers from across India, protesting

  4. Four-hour long ‘Rail roko’ protest held by farmers on tracks across Punjab, participation from farmer unions associated with SKM

  5. SKM calls for massive Mahapanchayat at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi on March 14, denounces BJP Regime’s repression on farmers, and MP ticket to Ajay Mishra Teni

  6. Day 23 of Farmers March: Mass withholding of social media ahead of march to Delhi, third time since the beginning of the protest

  7. Farmers march to be intensified from March 6, various means of transport to be opted by farmers to reach Delhi, ‘Rail Roko’ agitation to continue from March 10

  8. Farmers protest: Documentary ‘Kisan Satyagraha’ barred from Bengaluru film fest

  9. Farmers protest: “The law is clear on internet suspension” Court asks state government to submit internet suspension orders

  10. Farmers’ March: Police threatens protesters with cancellation of passports and visas

  11. Farmers protest: Death of a farmer after teargas shells dropped by Haryana cops, protests intensify as 77 SM accounts banned by MEITY/MHA

  12. Extension of internet bans, suspension of social media accounts: state action on farmers’ protest focuses on suppression of voices

  13. Farmers Protest: Union proposes contractual MSP for 5 years for three pulse crops, maize, and cotton, no law on MSP; farmer union to decide

  14. Day 5 of Farmers Protest: BKU (Ekta Ugrahan) holds sit-in protests outside houses of 3 Punjab BJP leaders, farmer leader Pandher demands Ordinance on MSP

  15. Day 4 of Farmer Protest: Excessive state force at protestors leads to death of elderly farmer, first death to be reported as of now

  16. Day 3 of Farmers’ Protest: More than 100 farmers injured by rubber bullets, solidarity protests by BKU and SKM in Punjab

  17. Protesting farmers spend Basant Panchami facing government’s water cannons and tear gases’ government withholds social media accounts of farm leaders, journalists

  18. Two journalists seriously injured amid Farmers’ Protests, DUJ condemns police action, ask for farmers demands to be settled

  19. Farmers Protest: Braving tear gas, blockades, state obstructions, farmers journey towards Delhi to demand law on MSP

  20. Farmer leaders detained in Madhya Pradesh, made to sit at police stations, saw police raids at night- attempts to stop farmers from joining protest intensify

  21. Farmers' Protest: Physical repression, prohibitory orders, Delhi entry blocked - Déjà Vu?

  22. Farmers in Noida, Greater Noida are protesting, which are the farmer unions are leading them

  23. Tractor parade by SKM on Republic Day in 500 districts, farmers to take pledge to protect the principles of democracy, federalism, secularism and socialism

The farmers demand from the union government to accept their long-standing demand of enactment of a law to guarantee a minimum support price (MSP) for their produce. This was only one of the conditions that the farmers had set when they agreed to withdraw their agitation in 2021.

  1. Farmers Protest: Three more protesting farmers die due to breathing problems; total death toll rises to 10

  2. RSS must stop demonising farmers’ movement: AIKS

  3. United they stand: ‘Kisan-Mazdoor Mahapanchayat’ at Ramlila Maidan sees a wave of farmers from across India, protesting

  4. Four-hour long ‘Rail roko’ protest held by farmers on tracks across Punjab, participation from farmer unions associated with SKM

  5. SKM calls for massive Mahapanchayat at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi on March 14, denounces BJP Regime’s repression on farmers, and MP ticket to Ajay Mishra Teni

  6. Day 23 of Farmers March: Mass withholding of social media ahead of march to Delhi, third time since the beginning of the protest

  7. Farmers march to be intensified from March 6, various means of transport to be opted by farmers to reach Delhi, ‘Rail Roko’ agitation to continue from March 10

  8. Farmers protest: Documentary ‘Kisan Satyagraha’ barred from Bengaluru film fest

  9. Farmers protest: “The law is clear on internet suspension” Court asks state government to submit internet suspension orders

  10. Farmers’ March: Police threatens protesters with cancellation of passports and visas

  11. Farmers protest: Death of a farmer after teargas shells dropped by Haryana cops, protests intensify as 77 SM accounts banned by MEITY/MHA

  12. Extension of internet bans, suspension of social media accounts: state action on farmers’ protest focuses on suppression of voices

  13. Farmers Protest: Union proposes contractual MSP for 5 years for three pulse crops, maize, and cotton, no law on MSP; farmer union to decide

  14. Day 5 of Farmers Protest: BKU (Ekta Ugrahan) holds sit-in protests outside houses of 3 Punjab BJP leaders, farmer leader Pandher demands Ordinance on MSP

  15. Day 4 of Farmer Protest: Excessive state force at protestors leads to death of elderly farmer, first death to be reported as of now

  16. Day 3 of Farmers’ Protest: More than 100 farmers injured by rubber bullets, solidarity protests by BKU and SKM in Punjab

  17. Protesting farmers spend Basant Panchami facing government’s water cannons and tear gases’ government withholds social media accounts of farm leaders, journalists

  18. Two journalists seriously injured amid Farmers’ Protests, DUJ condemns police action, ask for farmers demands to be settled

  19. Farmers Protest: Braving tear gas, blockades, state obstructions, farmers journey towards Delhi to demand law on MSP

  20. Farmer leaders detained in Madhya Pradesh, made to sit at police stations, saw police raids at night- attempts to stop farmers from joining protest intensify

  21. Farmers' Protest: Physical repression, prohibitory orders, Delhi entry blocked - Déjà Vu?

  22. Farmers in Noida, Greater Noida are protesting, which are the farmer unions are leading them

  23. Tractor parade by SKM on Republic Day in 500 districts, farmers to take pledge to protect the principles of democracy, federalism, secularism and socialism

Farmers Protest: Three more protesting farmers die due to breathing problems; total death toll rises to 10

On March 18, three more farmers protesting at the Punjab-Haryana borders as a part of the ‘Delhi Chalo’ died, bringing the death toll since the protest started to a total of ten. Two of the deceased farmers were aged, between the age of 75-80, while the third farmer was 40-years-old. As provided by the report of Hindustan Times, the farmer union leaders have blamed the deaths of the farmers upon the toxic air emanating from tear gas shells fired by the police that the farmers are being forced to inhale on both Shambhu and Khanouri borders. Due to the tear gas shells, the farmers have allegedly been facing breathing issues.

More about the deceased farmers:

Farmer Balkar Singh, aged 76, belonged to the Ajnala block of Amritsar. As per a report of the Times of India, Balkar breathed his last breath on Monday at the Rajpura railway station while waiting for the Shan-e-Punjab Express. As per the report, he was going home due to his ill health. It has been reported that Balkar Singh had expressed his wish to go home for a few days as he was feeling unwell. In the TOI report, Rajpura government railway police (GRP) assistant sub-inspector (ASI) Sukhwant Singh has provided that Balkar Singh was moved to hospital after alert.

Responding to Balkar’s death, Sarvan Singh Pandher of the Kisan-Mazdur Mukti Morcha (KMM) said that “Balkar was part of the Shambhu since it was pitched, and he died waiting to get home to his three sons and a daughter.”

Another elder farmer name Bishan Singh, aged 75, of Khandoor village in Pakhowal block of Ludhiana district, died on the same day as Balkar Singh after suffering from cardiac arrest. As claimed by the farmers leaders Bishan was associated with Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ekta Sidhupur) farmer union and had stayed at Shambhu border since the beginning of farmers' "Delhi Chalo" protest.

According to a separate TOI report, other farmers provided had that the deceased was facing breathing problems for the past few days after facing tear gas shells and smoke. He was moved to Rajpura’s govt hospital and declared dead after breathing issues.

Karamjit Singh Pakhowal block general secretary of BKU Ekta Sidhupur stated that “Bishan Singh faced breathing problems in the wee hours of Monday following which he was rushed to government hospital in Rajpura where doctors declared him dead.”

Pakhowal also provided details about the deceased and his family, and stated “He was unmarried. Bishan was the owner of only one acre of agricultural land and was in debt. He is survived by five brothers and their family members. The brother of the deceased has reached the hospital’s mortuary and a decision over his cremation will be taken soon."

Rajpura senior medical officer Dr Bidhi Chand referred to both the aforementioned deaths and said that “Both Bishan Singh and Balkar Singh were brought dead to the hospital. The causes of their death will be cleared once we do the autopsy by Tuesday. For now, the bodies are in mortuary.”

The third deceased farmer was identified as Tehal Singh, who died at his residence in Mansa district. As per the report of TOI, Tehal Singh belonged to Bhathlan village in Mansa district, and died on early hours of Monday morning. As per the report, only hours prior to his death, the deceased farmer had returned from the Khanauri border protest.

 

Related:

RSS must stop demonising farmers’ movement: AIKS

United they stand: ‘Kisan-Mazdoor Mahapanchayat’ at Ramlila Maidan sees a wave of farmers from across India, protesting

Four-hour long ‘Rail roko’ protest held by farmers on tracks across Punjab, participation from farmer unions associated with SKM

RSS must stop demonising farmers’ movement: AIKS

In the recently concluded Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) at Nagpur, Dattatreya Hosabale, its general secretary, has denigrated the ongoing farmers’ protests in Punjab and Haryana by terming them as “anti-national.” A favourite term of this regime to denigrate and criminalise any dissent against the policies of the RSS-BJP government, this slur against Indian farmers is not new. Such offensive terms were used even in 2020-2021 when the vibrant farmers’ protest shook India.

According to media reports, Hosabale, the second-in-command of the RSS, in his official general secretary’s report, has placed on record the fact that “disruptive forces” are behind the farm protests. Hosabale also added that there are well orchestrated plans to spread “separatist terrorism” in Punjab under the guise of the farmers’ movement, states the All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) in a press statement released today. This canard spread by the betrayers of the freedom struggle is out of vengeance against the incessant SKM-led united movement of farmers which has forced the Narendra Modi-led BJP Government to withdraw the pro-corporate Farm Acts. AIKS condemns this sinister move of the RSS which has often been indicted for its anti-national role in communal riots and pogroms, adds AIKS.

AIKS is of the firm opinion that the audacity demonstrated by Hosabale to demonise the farmers’ movement in general and the Punjab movement in particular is a “loyal continuum of the RSS’ trajectory of collaborating with British imperialism and denigrating the greatest anti-imperialist martyrs like Bhagat Singh.” The AIKS statement recalls that historically at the time when the “entire country was on the streets condemning the hanging of Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev, the RSS and other Hindutva outfits were busy denouncing them.” The RSS which couldn’t produce a single freedom fighter worth the name opted to belittle the immense sacrifices of these revolutionaries as “failure”, as clearly demonstrated in Golwalkar’s “Bunch of Thoughts”.

Notably, the RSS has used the term “disruptive forces” to characterise the patriotic farmers of Punjab and Haryana who are fighting against the corporatisation of the agriculture. The AIKS states however that, “the reality is that it is Hindutva terrorism that is acting as the most disruptive internal threat to the unity and diversity of the country. Hindutva fascistic politics is closely aligned with international finance capital and big business which is threatening Indian farmers. RSS should not forget its history of collusion with the imperialist forces and with imperialist agencies like the CIA.”

“CIA Agent J A Curran, who enjoyed unusual access to the top brass of RSS from 1949 to 1951, in his book had identified RSS as a tool that would help the imperialist block led by the USA to contain the militant peasant and workers’ movement in independent India. By demonising the farmers’ movement against corporatisation, RSS is showing its support for imperialist forces in their project to devour Indian agriculture.”

The AIKS has meanwhile also stated that in many of post independent India’s judicial inquiry commission reports “have identified the nefarious role of the RSS in inciting communal riots. This very reason had led to its ban in 1948 after Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination and in 1992 after the demolition of the Babri Masjid. The role played by the Sangh Parivar functionaries in the 1984 anti-Sikh pogrom as well as in the 2002 Gujarat genocide are well documented. AIKS calls upon all patriotic forces to isolate and expose fascistic elements led by the RSS who are spreading canards against the farmers’ movement.”


Related:

United they stand: ‘Kisan-Mazdoor Mahapanchayat’ at Ramlila Maidan sees a wave of farmers from across India, protesting

Four-hour long ‘Rail roko’ protest held by farmers on tracks across Punjab, participation from farmer unions associated with SKM

Day 23 of Farmers March: Mass withholding of social media ahead of march to Delhi, third time since the beginning of the protest

 

United they stand: ‘Kisan-Mazdoor Mahapanchayat’ at Ramlila Maidan sees a wave of farmers from across India, protesting

On the morning of March 14, visual of farmers in large numbers in the “Kisan Mazdoor Mahapanchayat”, being held at Ramlila Maidan, Delhi, surfaced on social media. Almost 37 farmer unions under the umbrella of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) have gathered in Delhi to press the union government to accept the demands of the farmers. It is essential to note that the demands being put forth by the protesting farmers include a law on the minimum support price (MSP) for 23 crops to enable the farmers to lead a dignified life, loan waiver, and other policy measures on insurance etc.

Most significantly they have demanded the implementation of the Swaminathan Commission's recommendations for MSP, pensions for farmers and agricultural workers. Along with this, they also seek justice for the death of the 22-year-old farmer Shubhkaran Singh, who was killed during clashes with the state police.

On-ground visuals from the protest site can be viewed here:

A large group of women can be seen within the group, hailing farmers unity and raising slogans against the Modi government.

Multiple farmer unions came together for this Mahapanchayat

AIKS (All India Kisan Sabha) also took to ‘X’ (formerly Twitter) to share pictures from the protest site.

Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) farmer leader Rakesh Tikait also participated in the Mahapanchayat and addressed the media.

Speaking to PTI, Tikait said the unified protest of farmers today has showed the government that the farmers of the country are stand together and their protest is not going to end unless the government brings a solution through mediation. “A meeting was held here and the government got a message that the farmers of the country are united. The government should resolve the issue through talks, this agitation is not going to end."

He further said “From Kashmir, Ladakh to Kanyakumari, we will hold protests across the length and breadth of India. They want to ruin the whole country the way they have ruined the mandis of Bihar. By ruining the mandi system in Bihar they converted the farmers in Bihar to labour. They want to turn all of us into labourers and snatch away our lands. We will not give up our lands, we will protest against each of them.”

He accused the union government of oppressing and dividing the farmers by stating “They want to break us up. They want to create separate farmer unions. This is the policy of the union government. They want us to break into divisions based on caste, religions, regions and language”

Significant Police “bandobast” could also be seen

The permission to organise the gathering was granted by the Delhi Police and municipal corporation on March 11 on condition that the protesting farmers limit participation in the Mahapanchayat to 5,000 persons, that there would be no tractor trolleys and no march at the maidan. However, the Delhi Police had still anticipated more than 15,000 farmers to arrive.

SKM has indicated that more than 30,000 farmers from Punjab were anticipated to arrive for the protest. The SKM had stated that will establish a “Sankalp Patra” or “letter of resolution” at the Mahapanchayat in an effort to bolster their opposition to the “pro-corporate, communal, dictatorial policies of the Modi government, to fight to save farming, food security, livelihood, and the people from corporate loot”.

Meanwhile, as this protest in the capital reached its culmination, thousands of farmers continue to protest on Punjab-Haryana borders as part of the ‘Delhi Chalo’ protest, where they have been camping since February 13.

 

Related:

Déjà vu, a film that depicts the chilling effects of corporate-contract farming, resonates with Indian farmer’s protests

Farmers march to be intensified from March 6, various means of transport to be opted by farmers to reach Delhi, ‘Rail Roko’ agitation to continue from March 10

SKM calls for massive Mahapanchayat at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi on March 14, denounces BJP Regime’s repression on farmers, and MP ticket to Ajay Mishra Teni

Four-hour long ‘Rail roko’ protest held by farmers on tracks across Punjab, participation from farmer unions associated with SKM

 

Four-hour long ‘Rail roko’ protest held by farmers on tracks across Punjab, participation from farmer unions associated with SKM

On March 11, farmers participated in a four-hour-long ‘rail roko’ protest as a part of their ‘Delhi Chalo’ protest. A day before, on March 10, farmer unions Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha had announced a nationwide 'rail roko' protest to put pressure on the union government to accept their demand for bringing in a law on Minimum Support Price (MSP) and other demands.

As per a report of Hindustan Times, Sarwan Singh Pandher, farmer leader from the KMM, had announced that the protesting farmers will stage sit-ins on railway tracks across Punjab, including Ferozepur, Amritsar, Rupnagar, and Gurdaspur districts. These protests took place between noon and 4 pm and saw the participation from the Bharti Kisan Union (Ekta Ugrahan), Bharti Kisan Union (Dakaunda-Dhaner), and the Krantikari Kisan Union, affiliated with the Samyukta Kisan Morcha. As per the HT report, 9 trains cancelled in Ambala division due to ‘rail roko’ agitation. It had been reported that other train services in Haryana were also impacted.

In addition to this, another death of a protesting farmer was reported yesterday. As provided by a separate report of Hindustan Times, the deceased farmer, who has been identified as Baldev Singh, had been admitted to the Government Rajindra Hospital in Patiala after he had complained of breathlessness on the afternoon of March 10. The 65-year-old man, who had been participating in the ongoing farmers’ agitation at Khanouri, died while undergoing treatment.

As per the report, doctors at the government hospital provided that the exact cause of the elderly farmer’s death could only be ascertained after a post-mortem is conducted. The farmer had been protesting at the Khanouri border for over a past few weeks. Baldev Singh belonged to Kangthala village in Patiala and was associated with Krantikari Kisan Union. Notably, this is the death that has been reported since the protest began on February 13.

 

Related:

Déjà vu, a film that depicts the chilling effects of corporate-contract farming, resonates with Indian farmer’s protests

SKM calls for massive Mahapanchayat at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi on March 14, denounces BJP Regime’s repression on farmers, and MP ticket to Ajay Mishra Teni

Day 23 of Farmers March: Mass withholding of social media ahead of march to Delhi, third time since the beginning of the protest

Farmers march to be intensified from March 6, various means of transport to be opted by farmers to reach Delhi, ‘Rail Roko’ agitation to continue from March 10

 

SKM calls for massive Mahapanchayat at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi on March 14, denounces BJP Regime’s repression on farmers, and MP ticket to Ajay Mishra Teni

The repression by the BJP-RSS regime, both by the union government and the Haryana government has been widely condemned nationwide.

One of the martyrs is 79-year old Gian Singh, who died of a heart attack on February 16, 2024 while protesting at the Shambhu border; the second martyr is 21-year old Shubhkaran Singh, who was shot dead by the trigger-happy police of the BJP controlled Haryana government on February 21 at the Khanauri border. Both these borders separate Punjab from Haryana.

These killings were preceded by the shocking act on February 13 of throwing tear gas shells on farmers from drones at the Shambhu and Khanauri borders, firing pellets and rubber bullets, unleashing lathi charges, making arbitrary arrests, and erecting huge iron spikes, barbed wire, and concrete barricades on the highways, just to prevent the farmers from marching to Delhi.

The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), the Central Trade Unions (CTU), and several left and secular political parties have strongly denounced the BJP-RSS government for its savage repression. The SKM and CTU also condemned the February 13 repression on farmers during the nationwide rural Bharat Bandh and industrial strike on February 16, a protest that was announced to focus on their pressing demands.

The SKM and CTU also denounced the cold-blooded murder by the Haryana police of the young farmer Shubhkaran Singh through nationwide protests on February 23. In this connection, the SKM also demanded the resignation of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, and Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij.

Cynical immorality

As if this violent state repression was not shocking enough, the brazen decision of the BJP –taken on March 3 --to award a ticket from Lakhimpur-Kheri, to Ajay Mishra Teni, the sitting member of parliament (MP) for contesting the coming Parliament elections is more than telling. Teni and his son were accused of the brutal massacre, (by running down) of four farmers and one journalist on October 3, 2021. Ajay Mishra Teni remains the Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, more than two and a half years after he and his son have been accused of crushing and killing four farmers and a journalist under their cars and severely injured many other. This incident took place when on October 3, 2021, when the SKM-led nationwide farmers’ struggle against the three black Farm Laws was still ongoing.

While such an incident and the following non-accountability would be unheard of in a functioning, civilised democracy, in the India under this dispensation, Ajay Mishra Teni remains in Parliament rather than in jail. It may be recalled that the British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, incidentally a Tory, was forced to resign from his high post because he was hosting drunken parties at his official residence 10 Downing Street in London when the nation was reeling under the Covid pandemic. In stark contrast, by “rewarding” Ajay Mishra Teni a ticket to Parliament—a man accused of the brute running down of four farmers and a journalist-- Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, and the entire BJP-RSS top brass have not only displayed their utterly cynical immorality, but they have also insulted the entire farmer community of India and rubbed salt into their wounds.

SKM-CTU struggle calls get enthusiastic response 

The SKM National Coordination Committee and the General Body which met at Chandigarh on February 22 took a number of important decisions. It briefly reviewed the massive success of the January 26 Nationwide Tractor Parades and the February 16 Rural Bharat Bandh and Industrial Strike.

Both these SKM-CTU actions, the Chalo Delhi call by other organisations (we are at the moment refraining from commenting on these organisations for the sake of forging farmers’ unity) and the repression by the government, served two vital purposes. One, they brought home to the entire country that the struggle of farmers and workers for their rights was far from over and would be intensified. Two, all these struggles succeeded in partly neutralising the impact of the January 22 Ayodhya Ram Mandir inauguration spectacle.

The most important decision of the Chandigarh SKM meeting was to organise a massive Mahapanchayat at the Ramlila Maidan on March 14. The CTU declared that it would also mobilise for this Mahapanchayat in solidarity. Hectic preparations are now underway to ensure that the March 14 programme is a great success, especially to ensure mass mobilisation from the North Indian states like Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh. There will be representative mobilisation from the other states too. It will have to be seen what the response of the authoritarian Modi regime will be, but the SKM has decided to go ahead with the Mahapanchayat, come what may.

The other major decisions taken in the February 22 SKM Chandigarh meeting were: Nationwide Black Day protests denouncing the police murder of Shubhkaran Singh; and demonstrations all over the country on February 26, the day that the Ministerial Summit of the WTO began at Abu Dhabi, to warn against any likely surrender by India to WTO diktats to dilute the demands for a remunerative MSP and a strong and universal PDS. Tens of thousands of farmers participated in both these protest actions throughout the country.

The SKM Chandigarh General Body decided to form a six-member committee to hold consultations with all former SKM members to launch a united action plan for achieving farmers’ demands and develop issue-based unity and to unite all Kisan organisations which were part of the SKM. The members include Hannan Mollah, Joginder Singh Ugrahan, Balbeer Singh Rajewal, Yudhvir Singh, Darshan Pal and Raminder Patiala.

The main demands of the SKM-CTU joint struggle, adopted in the National Convention of Workers and Farmers at the Talkatora Stadium in Delhi on August 24, 2023 are as follows:

  • Minimum Support Price (MSP) @C2+50% for all crops with guaranteed procurement, Reduction by half of all input costs with restoration of fertilizer subsidy;
  • Complete loan waiver to small and middle farm households and agricultural workers to ensure their freedom from indebtedness;
  • Radical strengthening and expansion of the Public Distribution System (PDS);
  • Comprehensive pro-farmer crop insurance scheme to combat natural calamities;
  • No hike in electricity tariff, no to prepaid metres, 300 units free electricity to all rural households and shops;
  • Minimum wage of Rs 26,000 per month for workers;
  • Repeal of the four Labour Codes;
  • No privatisation of PSUs including Railway, Defence, Electricity, Coal, Oil, Steel, Telecom, Posts, Transport, Airports, Port & Docks;
  • Banks, Insurance, Education and Health, Employment must be made into a Fundamental Right;
  • No Contractualisation of jobs, Scrapping of Fixed Term Employment, Strengthen MGNREGS with 200 days’ work per person per year and Rs 600 as daily wage;
  • Restoration Old Pension Scheme, Pension and social security to all in formal and informal economy;
  • Welfare Boards for all categories of unorganised workers on the lines of Construction Workers Welfare Board;
  • Implementation of the LARR Act 2013 (Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013);
  • Implementation of the Forest Rights Act, dismissal of Ajay Mishra Teni and registration of murder case against him, among others.

The SKM also reiterated that it will carry forward the struggle against communalism, casteism and authoritarianism to save basic principles of democracy, secularism, federalism, and socialism enshrined in the Constitution of India.

Hypocrisy of the Modi Government Exposed 

On February 10, the Modi Government announced that India’s highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna, would be conferred on Choudhary Charan Singh and Dr M S Swaminathan. The AIKS exposed the Modi regime through the following press release: 

“The All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) is of the clear opinion that the BJP Central Government headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi deciding to confer the Bharat Ratna Award on Choudhary Charan Singh and Dr M S Swaminathan on the eve of the 2024 general elections is the height of hypocrisy. By this step, the Modi regime is trying to hide its extreme anti-farmer, anti-agriculture, and pro-corporate policies of the last ten years. But farmers will see through its game, and it will never succeed in hoodwinking the rural populace.

“Firstly, it must be underlined that during the tenure of the Modi regime more than 750 farmers from different parts of the country were martyred during the year-long iconic and victorious nationwide farmers’ struggle against the three hated Farm Laws in 2020-21. Many families of these farmer martyrs have still got no compensation whatsoever, despite written assurances by the central government. The Modi regime is also the only government in independent India which has the ignominy of one of its own Union Ministers of State Ajay Mishra Teni being directly responsible for the crushing to death of four farmers and one journalist under cars directed by him at Lakhimpur Kheri in Uttar Pradesh, which is the native state of Choudhary Charan Singh, a renowned anti-feudal farmer leader himself. What is worse, this Minister, instead of being in jail for murder, still retains his post in the Modi Cabinet.

“As per the information of the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) which is directly under the Union Home Ministry, over one lakh farmers and agricultural workers have been forced to commit suicide due to indebtedness in the last ten years of the Modi-led BJP government alone. The main reason for this terrible human tragedy is the outright refusal of this government to implement the most seminal recommendation of the National Commission on Farmers (NCF), headed by Dr M S Swaminathan, of giving a legal guarantee of Minimum Support Price (MSP) at one and a half times the comprehensive cost of production (C2 + 50%).

“The BJP Election Manifesto of 2014 had said that “it will enhance the profitability in agriculture, by ensuring a minimum of 50% net profit, cheaper agriculture inputs and credit”. The same assurance was given by Modi in over 400 election speeches during the campaign. But what did the government actually do after coming to power? On February 15, 2015 it filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court that it was not possible to increase the MSP for food grains and other farm produce to input cost plus 50% as it would “distort the market”. Ever since then, it has consistently refused to honour any of the Swaminathan Commission recommendations.

“The other assurance that was given by Modi in his 2014 election speeches was that of a loan waiver to the peasantry. But not a single rupee of peasants’ loans has been waived in the last ten years by the Modi-led central government. The Modi regime, while stubbornly refusing a peasant loan waiver, has written off loans worth over Rs 15 lakh crores that had been taken by a handful of its crony corporates.

“Modi’s talk of doubling farmers’ incomes in six years has also been exposed for the ‘jumla’ that it was in the first place. In fact, as the latest Union Budget has proved, there have been huge cuts in outlay on agriculture and allied sectors, including on food subsidy, fertiliser subsidy, irrigation, and also for MNREGA. It has also been recently revealed that the Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Ministry of the Modi regime shamelessly returned an amount of over Rs 1 lakh-crore that was earmarked for agriculture in the last five budgets.

“The entire thrust of the Modi government in the last ten years has been to fatten its crony corporates at the expense of the peasants and workers, and the entire country itself. This was seen in its attempt to steamroller the three Farm Laws, and earlier the reactionary amendments to the LARR 2013. Both these attempts were defeated by united farmers’ struggles.

“Choudhary Charan Singh and Dr M S Swaminathan in their entire life, thought, and work, were diametrically opposed to this entire trajectory of rural development that the Modi regime has been pushing at the behest of its corporate masters, both domestic and foreign. This trajectory has already led to the ruin of Indian agriculture, and the Indian peasantry.

“The peasantry of India will surely see through this new hypocrisy of the Modi government, and will show its anger by defeating this regime in the coming elections. Its determination will soon be seen in the great success of the Rural Bharat Bandh and Industrial Strike called by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) and Central Trade Unions (CTUs) on February 16, 2024.”

(The author is National President, All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS))

Views and opinions expressed in this article is solely that of the author and does not necessarily reflect the views or position of SabrangIndia and this site.

Related:

Day 23 of Farmers March: Mass withholding of social media ahead of march to Delhi, third time since the beginning of the protest

Farmers march to be intensified from March 6, various means of transport to be opted by farmers to reach Delhi, ‘Rail Roko’ agitation to continue from March 10

Farmers protest: Documentary ‘Kisan Satyagraha’ barred from Bengaluru film fest

Farmers protest: “The law is clear on internet suspension” Court asks state government to submit internet suspension orders

Farmers’ March: Police threatens protesters with cancellation of passports and visas

Farmers protest: Death of a farmer after teargas shells dropped by Haryana cops, protests intensify as 77 SM accounts banned by MEITY/MHA

Extension of internet bans, suspension of social media accounts: state action on farmers’ protest focuses on suppression of voices

Day 23 of Farmers March: Mass withholding of social media ahead of march to Delhi, third time since the beginning of the protest

On March 3, farmer unions and farmer leaders had announced that the farmers will continue with their ‘Delhi Chalo’ protest from March 6. With this, they had also urged the union and state governments to allow the protesting farmers from Punjab and Haryana passage to Delhi so that they could peacefully exercise their right to protest. Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher had stated that if the government allows peaceful passage and right to demonstrate, it would clarify the union’s stance on letting the farmers exercise their right to protest. But, reports of the union government employing the same repressive tactics on farmers and farmer leaders have now emerged, signalling that the government is in no mood to back down. As per a report of the Wire, a day before the farmers were to begin with the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) Non-Political and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM)’s ‘Delhi Chalo’ protest, more social media accounts were withheld by the union government. As per the report, on the night of March 4, the Union government withheld around hundred ‘X’ (formerly Twitter) accounts that belonged to farmer union leaders or those who have been supporting and covering the farmers’ cause.

It is essential to note that this is not the first time that the government has employed these censorship tactics. Since the beginning of the protests, the union government has indulged in such mass censorship and mass withholding of social media accounts two other times too. (Can be read here and here).

The ones silenced:

Amongst the ones whose accounts have been withheld is journalist Garvit Garg, working for Gaon Savera, who had been covering the farmers protest from on-ground. Previously, the X accounts of ‘Gaon Sawera’, a page run by independent journalist Mandeep Punia had been withheld, as was Mandeep’s personal page. Gaon Savera is a prominent name supporting the farmers’ protest and had been arrested in 2020. It is also pertinent to highlight here that even in August of 2023, when farmers had been protesting to demand compensation for the entire north India region to deal with the crop loss owing to floods, similar undemocratic tactics were employed by the government against Gaon Savera. Then, the Facebook page of Gaon Savera had been blocked to stop them from covering the protest.

Garg spoke to the Wire on the issue and said that the government has blocked all channels of information dissemination and attacked a citizen’s right to freedom of expression. Garg stated, “It is not just an attack on freedom of expression but a professional loss for us. Independent journalists work very hard to gather factual news and sustain their work. We are being continuously targeted by the government. Earlier the government had withheld the official page of Goan Savera and that of its editor, Mandeep Punia. This time, they targeted me”.

Terming this as an effort of the government to muzzle every voice on the ground, Garg called this is as a bad precedent that has left the farmers and those supporting them with no option to provide reports from the ground. As per the report of the Wire, Garg said, “There is a total blackout of farmers’ protests news everywhere. See, we could not even share the information of the Delhi Chalo call of March 6 on social media. It is a dangerous precedent, even those working with bigger media houses will also be attacked. Right now, we do not even see any way of fighting back”.

As per the report, many farmers have claimed that the union government has also targeted those accounts which have been promoting the farmers’ cause since the 2021-21 farmers’ protest. In line with the same, the account belonging to Sheena Sawhney, a dentist and US citizen, who has been supporting the farmers’ protest since the 2020-21 protests, was also withheld. Speaking with the Wire, Sawhney said “We led a huge group of people in the US and campaigned against the farm laws. I remained in touch with all the SKM leaders like Rakesh Tikait, Balbir Singh Rajewal and others to mobilise people but nobody blocked my Twitter account then. Now, when the farmers’ protest has just started, the government withheld my X account, which basically hints at moles within the farmers’ groups who were sharing our information with the government”.

Such oppressive moves by the union government have also clarified that not only Indian citizens, but even people abroad are on the radar of the union government and their social media accounts are also not safe. But, Sawhney asserted that the employment of such tactics will not stop her from supporting the cause of the protesting farmers and she will continue to support them. She also alleged that with the 2024 general elections around the corner, the government is not willing to have such protests take place.

“I am not rattled by the government’s action. Even if the government did not retrieve my X account, I would make a new account and continue to raise [my] voice for farmers. I was trolled and labelled as a ‘Khalistani’ for supporting farmers but the government never took any action against the trolls and it hurts. I spoke for farmers earlier; I will speak even now”, she said.

As per the report, Sawhney provided that the supporters of the farmers’ cause will write letters to senators, council members and higher authorities in the US to gain momentum for the farmers’ protest. Sawhney said, “We will reach out to people in the US, UK, Canada, Australia. Interestingly, the BJP and RSS people who supported George Floyd’s protest in the US were questioning the farmers’ protest and the tragic killing Shubhkaran Singh”.

The report also provides the statement of Gurshamshir Singh, a lawyer-turned-independent journalist from Patiala, whose X account was withheld for the first time. As per the report, Singh alleged that the government is employing censorship tactics as it does not want any information about the farmers’ protest to reach the masses. Talking to the Wire, Singh said that “The Delhi Chalo call of March 6 is the biggest reason why so many social media accounts were blocked in India. It has almost become a modus operandi of the government to block social media accounts whenever they see a potential of mass mobilisation”.

According to Singh, the union government is able to take such bold authoritarian steps in a democratic country without providing any explanation as no one is questing them. Singh said “The government knows that nobody is going to hold them accountable for this action, hence such emboldened actions. It is also an attempt to create a fear psychosis among people related to the farmers’ protest in the country. It is sad that the country was heading towards an authoritarian regime and in case you are from Punjab, you are more prone than others.”

Among others, Samita Kaur, an independent researcher from Chandigarh working for farmers and who was also running a campaign titled ‘We support our farmers’ was also targeted. Talking to the Wire, she said “We have been simply sharing news of the farmers’ protest. This time, the government was also targeting those accounts who were using the hashtags of farmers’ protest. We had just shared an article of the Human Rights Watch on the KMM page, after which our account was withheld”. Notably, Kaur had also spearheaded the ‘No farmer, No food’ campaign along with her peers in Chandigarh.

Kaur also expressed concern over the fact that farming was going to the corporations, against which the farmers have been leading this fight. Kaur said, “The corporations want to control and change the eating habits of the people. They want to decide what we are going to eat, hence the fight between the farmers and the corporates/government”.

Blocking social media ‘modus operandi’ of Modi government: Farmer leader

Farmer union leaders have showed no shock at the withholding of the social media accounts ahead of their planned march. Rather, they have termed the same to be the ‘modus operandi’ of the Modi government, where social media accounts were being repeatedly withheld in bulk whenever they gave a call to move to Delhi.

Speaking to The Wire, farmer union leader Gurpreet Sangha said that overnight, around 100 social media accounts belonging to farmers, farmer union leaders and people supporting the protest were withheld in India. Sangha also provided how his own accounts have been withheld three times since the beginning of this protest. Sangha said, “Till date, the government has withheld my three X accounts, which I made after each one of them was blocked in India”.

Sangha said that the union government does not want the voices of the farmers to reach the masses and these attempts of suppression are being employed out of fear. As per the report, Sangha said “The [Union] government’s message is clear: that they will not even let the farmers speak, leave alone the debate of right or wrong. Basically, the government fears the farmers’ protest that is why they were banning social media accounts. Even killing its own people should be the last resort of any regime, but either in panic or in despair, the government has misacted big time.”

Referring to the March 6 Delhi Chalo call, Sangha said that whether it is 100 farmers or 10,000, they will simply reach Jantar Mantar in Delhi and sit there in protest. As per the report, Sangha said “It is a purely organic announcement, where farmers from the rest of the country other than Punjab and Haryana would lead the protest”.

Sangha also provided that they will be taking legal recourse against the withholding of accounts and said, “We have decided to approach the Supreme Court in this case. Our legal team was working on it”,

Meanwhile, the legal team of the KMM, led by its coordinator, advocate Akhil Chaudhary from the Rajasthan high court, and Anjali Sheoran from the Punjab and Haryana high court, said in a statement that some social media accounts were blocked on the instructions of the Union government.

“We see this as a violation of our freedom of expression and plan to challenge it in the Supreme Court. We have urged all affected individuals to join our petition and contact our team for necessary paperwork, including signing the vakalatnama and completing other formalities”, the Wire report quoted Chaudhary.

Visuals of security beefing up at the border:

Images and videos showing tightened security of the Delhi Police at Tikri, Singhu, and Ghazipur borders have emerged on social media. As per a report of the Times Now, metro and railway stations is also seeing beefing up of security ahead of planned farmer protests in the Delhi. As per the report, high vigilance is being maintained at crucial transit points such as railway stations, metro stations, and bus stands, and this heightened security posture may result in increased police checks across the city.

Related:

Farmers protest: Documentary ‘Kisan Satyagraha’ barred from Bengaluru film fest

Farmers protest: “The law is clear on internet suspension” Court asks state government to submit internet suspension orders

Farmers’ March: Police threatens protesters with cancellation of passports and visas

Farmers protest: Death of a farmer after teargas shells dropped by Haryana cops, protests intensify as 77 SM accounts banned by MEITY/MHA

Extension of internet bans, suspension of social media accounts: state action on farmers’ protest focuses on suppression of voices

Farmers march to be intensified from March 6, various means of transport to be opted by farmers to reach Delhi, ‘Rail Roko’ agitation to continue from March 10

Yesterday, leaders of farmer unions declared that they will continue with their ‘Delhi Chalo’ protest from March 6 and present a united face against the union government's deception that the 'Delhi Chalo' protest is limited to farmers in Punjab and Haryana. On March 3, farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher announced that the farmer unions will resume their march to the national capital on March 6 and will also be continuing with the nationwide ‘Rail Roko’ agitation, where the farmers block the rail tracks across the country, from March 10.

"We have decided to march to Delhi on March 6. Meanwhile, on March 10, we will block rail tracks (across the country) from 12 pm to 4 pm," said Pandher, who is the coordinator of the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha.

The aforementioned update comes after the farmers had paused their "Delhi Chalo" march till February 29 while staying put along the Punjab-Haryana border.

Notably, the announcement was made by Pandher and farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal from Punjab's Balloh village- the native place of 22-year-old protestor Shubhkaran Singh who died during clashes with the Haryana police on February 21. Singh died due to a head injury sustained allegedly during police action against the farmers at Khanauri on the border of Punjab and Haryana. It was after the final prayer meeting held for Shubhkaran at Balloh that the farmer leaders spoke to the media.

Pandher had previously stated that, “Our morchas at Shambhu and Khanauri are going strong and we have sought more tarpaulin sheets and makeshift tents. More announcements will be made after Shubhkaran’s bhog on Sunday afternoon. I appeal to each and every person in Punjab to join the last prayer meeting at his native village Balloh in Bathinda district.”

The farmers have asserted that their protests will only intensify until their demands are met by the union government. It is essential to note that the farmers had rejected the proposal tabled by the union government on the issue of a minimum support price guarantee. The said proposal had purported that certain promoted cooperative societies would buy three pulse crops, maize, and cotton at MSP for five years after entering into a legal contract with farmers.

In his address with the media, the farmers provided that the famers being Haryana and Punjab are currently camping at the border points between Punjab and Haryana and will resume marching towards Delhi on March 6 in a "peaceful manner". Pandher and Dallewal stated that the farmers will intensify their agitation at existing protest sites until the Centre meets their demands.

“At Shambhu and Khanauri, the agitation will continue like before and will be further intensified. Our agitation will continue till the demands are met,” Pandher said.

The farmer leaders also emphasised upon the protest not being limited to Punjab or any particular farmer’s outfit.

"The Centre is trying to build a perception that the current agitation is limited to Punjab and the fight is led by only two forums. But we want to make it clear that more than 200 outfits in the country are part of the two forums… The perception being created that the agitation may die down when the Model Code of Conduct for the polls comes into force is not correct. We may have to fight today, tomorrow, but we will continue to fight for our rights," the farm leader was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.

With this, the farmer leaders urged the farmers travelling to Delhi from father states to opt for other means of transport. Doing the same will also clarify the union’s stance on letting the farmers exercise their right to protest as the union government had been justifying their use of force by stating that tractors cannot run on highways. In his address, he also pointed to how farmers from Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and Tamil Nadu had been stopped by the government while travelling to Delhi on February 13.

“The farmers from far away states, who cannot reach on tractor trolleys, should head to Delhi by trains and by other means of transport. It will also become clear whether the government allows those farmers to enter those farmers who go without tractor trolley”, Pandher said.

He added that all the Punjab panchayats should pass a resolution in support of the farmers' demands, adding that the union government is employing “all tactics” to stop their ‘Delhi Chalo’ march.

“On February 13, the Haryana government used tear gas shells, rubber bullets on us…when we wanted to march ahead. They continued it every time we tried to march ahead…They [Centre] are telling us repeatedly that we can go by train or buses to lodge our protests in Delhi instead of tractors. So, on March 6, states other than Punjab and Haryana will march towards Delhi in buses or trains. Let us see if they allow them to reach or not.”

Earlier, Pandher had said that the government was not paying attention to farmers’ demands as the ruling party’s sole focus was on winning the Lok Sabha elections.

“Rather than paying attention to farmers, they are focused on how to win the elections,” Pandher had said as per a report of Indian Express.

Statements by other farmer leaders:

As provided by the Indian Express, the farmer leaders have also assured that the existing dharnas at Shambhu and Khanauri will be strengthened and farmers will also add more numbers at the Dabwali-Bathinda border. As provided in the IE report, Ramandeep Singh Mann, a member of the KMM, said that “We will march to Delhi in a peaceful manner if there is no repression from the Haryana security forces at the borders. Else, we will strengthen the stir at the existing borders and even add more locations, not only in Punjab but in other states as well”.

BKU (Krantikari) general secretary Baldev Singh Zira said, “Our Dilli Chalo call stands as it is but at the same time, we don’t want any more Shubhkarans to die at the hands of security forces. If they allow us to move peacefully, we will march to Delhi. Else we will strengthen our dharna at the borders.”

Jaswinder Singh Longowal, president of BKU-Ekta (Azad), came down strongly upon the union government and the Haryana government for using “oppressive methods” against farmers holding a peaceful protest. “It is not just the question of using teargas or mild lathi-charge… We have seen them use toxic gases and everyone knows how we lost Shubhkaran,” he said, as per the IE report.

HE further added by saying “In a democracy, is it justified that bullets are fired? Our agitation will continue. It will head to victory. At the same time, one thing is clear, we have to save our children from bullets”.

Ranjeet Singh Raju, a farmer leader from Rajasthan who is part of KMM, said, “Farmers from other states will also march to- wards Delhi, so more dharnas are likely to happen in different parts of the country if farmers are stopped.”

What are the union government’s plans?

On Wednesday, March 28, Union agriculture and farmers' welfare minister Arjun Munda had announced that the union government does not have any immediate plan to resume talks with protesting farmers, but it will find a solution soon.

“There is no immediate plan to resume the talks, but the government will soon find a solution to address farmers' concerns," Munda had said as per a report in the Livemint. Notably, the last meeting that the union minister, along with Piyush Goyal (Food Minister) and Nityanand Rai (Minister of State for Home Affairs), had held with the famers was on February 18. As the proposal of the union was rejected, no results had come out of it. Prior to the same, the union ministers and farmer leaders had met on February 8, 12 and 15 but the same had remained inconclusive.

Notably, on March 2, the authorities had partially reopened the Singhu and Tikri border points, almost two weeks after those were sealed in view of the farmers' "Delhi Chalo" march.

It is essential to note that the ANI had recently reported that Punjab is facing a major crisis of diesel and cylinder gas due to the farmers' protest. Supplies of Diesel and LPG Gas in Punjab are badly hit due to roadblocks and safety issues, a report in the Livemint had provided while citing Ministry Sources.

 

Related:

Farmers protest: Documentary ‘Kisan Satyagraha’ barred from Bengaluru film fest

Farmers protest: “The law is clear on internet suspension” Court asks state government to submit internet suspension orders

Farmers’ March: Police threatens protesters with cancellation of passports and visas

Farmers protest: Death of a farmer after teargas shells dropped by Haryana cops, protests intensify as 77 SM accounts banned by MEITY/MHA

Extension of internet bans, suspension of social media accounts: state action on farmers’ protest focuses on suppression of voices

 

 

Farmers protest: Documentary ‘Kisan Satyagraha’ barred from Bengaluru film fest

BENGALURU: Unsurprisingly, ‘Kisan Satyagraha', a documentary on the 2020-21 farmers' protests in Delhi, has been barred from screening at the ongoing 15th edition of Bangalore International Film Festival (BIFFes) following “instructions” from the Union information and broadcasting ministry (MEITY). The documentary is directed by acclaimed Kannada director Kesari Haravoo reports TOI.

According to government officials, the screening of the documentary was not permitted because of its sensitive subject. What is sensitive of course not known neither explained is what is “sensitive” about a film that genuinely reflects farmer’s anger against three unjust farm laws that were later even withdrawn by the union government.

"All the movies to be screened are cleared by the I&B ministry. However, the ministry did not give a green signal to 'Kisan Satyagraha'... The Central authorities have told us that the matter pictured in the documentary is a sensitive subject and hence it should be withheld from being screened at the film festival. Following the instructions, we have withdrawn the screening of 'Kisan Satyagraha'. Otherwise, it should have been scheduled for screening on Friday," said G Himanth Raju, registrar, Karnataka Chalanchithra Academy.

Two other documentaries - one on Israel and the other on Ukraine (20 days in Mariupol) - have also not been given permission to be screened.

'Kisan Satyagraha' captures the stir seeking repeal of three farm laws. It has been screened at four international film festivals. It won the best documentary award at the White Unicorn Film Festival.

Related:

Farmers protest: “The law is clear on internet suspension” Court asks state government to submit internet suspension orders

Farmers protest: Death of a farmer after teargas shells dropped by Haryana cops, protests intensify as 77 SM accounts banned by MEITY/MHA

Farmers Protest: Union proposes contractual MSP for 5 years for three pulse crops, maize, and cotton, no law on MSP; farmer union to decide

Farmers protest: “The law is clear on internet suspension” Court asks state government to submit internet suspension orders

As farmers convene today on February 29 to decide how the further course of their movement will continue, whether they will continue their march onwards to Delhi or stop midway, legal proceedings continue. Livelaw today reported that the Punjab and Haryana High Court directed both Punjab and Haryana governments to officially submit the “requisite” regarding the suspension of internet services amidst the ongoing farmers’ protest.

Furthermore, according to Livelaw, a bench which has Acting Chief Justice GS Sandhawalia and Justice Lapita Banerji reportedly cited the Supreme Court's decision in Anuradha Bhasin v Union of India case, and stated that “the law is very clear on suspension of internet.” The bench instructed both states to provide on record the orders for the suspension of internet services.

During the proceedings, the court also addressed two Public Interest Litigations (PILs) which were filed to have a judicial inquiry into the death of a protestor on February 21st. Justice Sandhawalia asked the Punjab government about the delay in the post-mortem report, and enquired why it took a week to conduct the examination. He also asked whether it was a natural death. As per reports, a young farmer who was named Shubh Karan Singh had died during the protests. 

Responding to the queries, the counsel for the Punjab government informed the court that as the post-mortem was conducted recently, they are still awaiting the report. The counsel also mentioned the registration of a “Zero-FIR” in the matter under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

Similarly, on February 28, The Quint reported that the Punjab and Haryana High Court took up PGIMS Rohtak and expressed dissatisfaction over the lack of clarity in the case of one Preetpal Singh, a protesting farmer. Singh was reportedly “kidnapped” by Haryana Police from the Khanauri Border on February 21st. The court was responding to a habeas corpus petition that was filed by Davinder Singh, the father of the 30-year-old injured farmer. In his petition, he had asserted that his son was taken by Haryana Police on land that comes under Punjab while he was engaging in a “peaceful protest.” The court has told the PGI Chandigarh to initiate a medical board that will evaluate the injuries on Singh who is currently hospitalised. 

Related

Farmers protest: Death of a farmer after teargas shells dropped by Haryana cops, protests intensify as 77 SM accounts banned by MEITY/MHA

Extension of internet bans, suspension of social media accounts: state action on farmers’ protest focuses on suppression of voices

 Farmers Protest: Braving tear gas, blockades, state obstructions, farmers journey towards Delhi to demand law on MSP

Farmers’ March: Police threatens protesters with cancellation of passports and visas

The Haryana Police requested the annulment of passports and visas for people who are suspected of violence during the ongoing farmers’ ‘Dilli Chalo’ march at the Punjab-Haryana border. Farmers hailing from Punjab are slated to decide whether they will resume their march and move towards Delhi on February 29. They had earlier decided to halt their march to the national capital.

According to DSP Ambala, Joginder Sharma who told the media in a video statement released by ANI, the process of identifying the people has been started. The authorities have said that they have used the surveillance capabilities of CCTV and drone cameras and have successfully identified the people whose passports they hope to have cancelled. The police will now approach the Ministry and embassy and request for the cancellation of visas and passports for these people. Various details such as photographs, names, and addresses of the identified people will be submitted to the passport office.

According to the Indian Express, a police officer has told the newspaper that all people who are participating in the farmer agitation will have their passports cancelled; only a few who are involved in the unrest will. The source told the newspaper that different action is being taken against those described as ‘rowdies’ who travelled from Punjab to Haryana during the course of the farmer agitation. The DSP further stated there are numerous photos that have recorded instances of vandalism and disruptions and these are the individuals who will be targeted.

In other news, the report has revealed that leaders of Haryana farmer unions have told that the state police has fixed notices to their residences which informs them that the state intends to ‘recover’ damages to public and private properties that took place during the agitation, the notices also say that they will sod by seizing the farmers' assets and freezing their bank accounts.

Since February 13, farmers from Punjab have been protesting at established camps at the Khanauri and Shambhu points along the Punjab-Haryana border. One 24 year old young farmer named Shubh Karan Singh was grievously injured and later succumbed to his injuries. Reports assert that he died in police firing.

 

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Farmers protest: Death of a farmer after teargas shells dropped by Haryana cops, protests intensify as 77 SM accounts banned by MEITY/MHA

Signs of the state brutality continues with both Haryana and Delhi police crossing all democratic norms to prevent farmers’ entry into the capital. The Indian Express reported the death of a farmer at the Khanauri  border at 4.16 p.m.

In its defence, a woman officer from the Haryana police was seen on social media alleging that the farmer protesters surrounded the police from all sides by pouring chilli powder in the stubble, attacked the policemen using sticks and maces along with stone pelting at Khanauri border. Around 12 policemen were seriously injured. Appeal to the protesters for peace, the police added.

Meanwhile, the All India Kisan Union (AIKS) has condoled the Death of Farmer Shubh Karan Singh in Police Action and demanded the dismissal of the police personnel responsible for the brutality. The AIKS has also called for nationwide protests.

Some reports suggest that after being left down by what they dubbed as a fraudulent offer by government, the Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmer Welfare Arjun Munda on Wednesday again invited the farmer leaders for discussion on the MSP demand, crop diversification, stubble issue.

In a desperate attack indicative of the panic in government, the Union fovernment temporarily blocks 177 social media accounts, web links. The orders were issued by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology on February 14 and 19 at the request of the Ministry of Home Affairs under section 69A of the IT Act

PTI reported that the government has ordered temporary blocking of around 177 social media accounts and web links that are linked to the farmers' protest, according to sources. The orders were issued by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology on February 14 and 19 at the request of the Ministry of Home Affairs under section 69A of the IT Act.

"The orders have been issued to temporarily block 177 social media accounts and web links to maintain law and order on request of the Ministry of Home Affairs," the source said.

Links and accounts on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat and some other social media platforms have been ordered to be blocked. These accounts can be restored after the farmers' agitation is over, the source added.

At midday on Wednesday, the DIG of Patiala Range, HS Bhullar told the media on Wednesday said that the Haryana Police used 14 tear gas shells without any provocation as the farmers began their march towards Delhi from the Shambhu border. Bhullar said that has registered his protest with the Haryana Police regarding the same.

Meanwhile, farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, while speaking to farmers at the Shambhu border, said “You stay behind.. we shall lead the march. Let’s stop the machines and we shall walk.”

Earlier in the day, the Punjab and Haryana High Court refused to accept a plea by the Haryana government over farmers using heavy equipment ahead of the ‘Delhi Chalo’ protest march. “Politics is happening all over. Why didn’t Punjab stop these machines/protestors earlier? Courts are being used,” HC said while refusing the hearing. The Haryana government approached the High Court again on Wednesday, seeking directions to prevent farmers from moving ahead with their modified earth-moving equipment which pose security concerns in Haryana.

While addressing the media early this morning, farmer leaders Sarwan Singh Pandher and Dallewal urged the government to remove the barricades at the Shambhu border so the could march peacefully to Delhi and said that they were “ready to die in the interest of the nation.”

Protesting farmers are demanding that a Special Session of Parliament should be called to formulate MSP law, says Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ekta-Ugrahan) president. The Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ekta-Ugrahan) president Joginder Singh Ugrahan and General Secretary Sukhdev Singh Kokri Kalan, stated that a special session of Parliament should be called to formulate laws ensuring the guaranteed purchase of crops through MSP for all 23 crops. Farmers demand a peaceful resolution of the ongoing struggle, rejecting the aggressive measures of the central government to suppress the democratic voice of the protesting farmers, they said in a statement issued this afternoon.

Barricading Delhi for #FarmersProtests

Shocking reports of how Haryana and Delhi Police had geared up for the farmers’ march to Delhi, barricading at borders, provisions to block roads. On Tuesday, the Gurgaon Police arrested under section Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) Section(s) 107/151, and later released 38 farmers for violating orders under CrPC Section 144 in the state, after Manesar farmers called for a march towards Delhi. They were later released.

The Indian Expres reported in detail, multiple layers of barricading at borders with Haryana, provisions to block the road at Ghazipur border with Uttar Pradesh if the need arises — these are some of the measures the Delhi Police is keeping in place ahead of the scheduled march of farmers towards Delhi from Punjab on Wednesday morning following their rejection of the Centre’s five-year minimum support price (MSP) proposal.

On the march scheduled for Wednesday, Deputy Commissioner of Police (East) Mayank Gupta said that four law and order companies are ready with riot gear to restrict any movement and control disturbance. “But we are not expecting any disruption here. We are coordinating with the DCPs of South and Southwest Delhi along with those in the neighbouring districts of Gurgaon,” Gupta said, adding that there were no restrictions on traffic or any route diversion.

At the Panipat-Sonipat border, at least 400 officers along with two companies of Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) and one of Border Security Force (BSF) have been deployed, along with the installment of water cannons, barricades, and concrete barriers to prevent the protesters from marching towards the national capital. Other media reports in Indian Express  and Telegraph stated that the Gurgaon Police, meanwhile, has deployed officers at all its key borders including the Rajokri border on the Delhi-Jaipur Highway, Rewari, Pataudi-Jhajjar, Farrukhnagar-Jhajjar and Nuh borders. “Adequate force is on standby round the clock, and Gurgaon has not been affected by the protests so far, but we have enough officers deployed to prevent any untoward incident along the borders,” said an officer, requesting anonymity.

In Gautam Buddha Nagar, officials said that farmers would be given space from the Yamuna Expressway’s zero point to Surajpur collectorate, where farmers will line up on one side with their tractors.


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Farmers Protest: Union proposes contractual MSP for 5 years for three pulse crops, maize, and cotton, no law on MSP; farmer union to decide

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Extension of internet bans, suspension of social media accounts: state action on farmers’ protest focuses on suppression of voices

Since the beginning of the ‘Delhi Chalo’ farmers’ protest, which was began on February 13, concerns regarding excessive state actions to repress independent media coverage of the protest and supress the voice of supporters of the farmers’ cause had been raised. Only a few days into the protest saw many ‘X’ (formerly Twitter) accounts, such as the Tractor to Twitter and Gaon Savera, digital news portals known for their vocal support of farmer’s rights being suspended by the social media platform. Even individual journalists, along the likes of journalist Mandeep Punia, saw their ‘X’ accounts being targeted and being withheld. These accounts were majorly involved in disseminating information about the ongoing farmers’ protest and providing on-ground reporting from the protest site.

These tactics of frequently intensifying state-censorship have an adverse impact on an individuals’ right to free speech and expression, guaranteed to every citizen of India under Article 19(1)(a) of the Indian Constitution. A post uploaded on ‘X’ by Alt News Fact Checker showed the number of ‘X’ accounts of ground reporters/influencers/prominent farm unionists covering Farmers Protest in India remain suspended in the country. Notably, most of these accounts are critical of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party government.

 

Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher has accused the Union government of suppressing the voice of the people by employing such tactics. Reportedly, the government had suspended the accounts of around 70 YouTubers who were showing farmers' protest. This suspension, along with imposition of internet bans and their continuation, ensures that on-ground reports from the protest sites do not reach the common people and it becomes easier for the state to spread disinformation. It is essential to note here that as per the latest notification, on the orders of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, the suspension of internet services has been extended in certain areas of some Punjab districts, including Patiala, Sangrur and Fatehgarh Sahib, till February 24. Earlier, the internet services were suspended from February 12 till February 16 in view of the farmers' 'Delhi Chalo' march.

As per a report in The Hindu Business Line, according to the Ministry's February 16 order, internet services will remain suspended in areas falling under Shambhu, Julkan, Passian, Patran, Shatrana, Samana, Ghanaur, Devigarh and Balbhera police stations in Patiala; Lalru police station in Mohali; Sangat police station in Bathinda; Killianwali police station in Muktsar; Sardulgarh and Boha police stations in Mansa; and Khanauri, Moonak, Lehra, Sunam and Chajli police stations in Sangrur; and areas under Fatehgarh Sahib police station. The aforementioned powers to suspend internet had been invoked by the Union government under the Telegraph Act of 1885.

Meanwhile, in the state of Haryana, the ban on mobile internet and bulk SMS services in seven districts had been extended till February 20 in seven districts, namely are Ambala, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Jind, Hisar, Fatehabad and Sirsa. The government had earlier extended the suspension on February 13, 15 and 17. Now that the farmers’ have declared that they will be resuming with their protest on the morning of February 21, the suspension of internet will presumably also be extended.

In addition to suspending the accounts of those involved or supporting the farmers’ protest, the ‘X’ account of prominent Tribal leader Hansraj Meena, a member of the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly, was also withheld. Along with him, the ‘X’ account of Tribal Army, who frequently reports on atrocities taking place against Tribal in India, also saw its suspension.

A statement by Internet Freedom Foundation had been released regarding the imposition of internet bans and suspension of social media accounts. Through the statement, the organisation that works on digital rights had said that “Reports also indicate that X/Twitter accounts documenting protests and alleged human rights violations are also being withheld in India, purportedly due to legal demands under the IT Act, 2000. However, authorities haven't disclosed these blocking orders, depriving individuals of the reasons for blocking and an opportunity to challenge their legality. This undermines both freedom of expression and the right to information. These actions reveal a disturbing trend of resorting to internet suspensions and online censorship in response to peaceful protests.”

With this, the organisation had urged for the unblocking of X/Twitter accounts of those who are closely documenting the protest and had also called upon the State Authorities to lift the ongoing internet suspension.

 

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Farmers Protest: Union proposes contractual MSP for 5 years for three pulse crops, maize, and cotton, no law on MSP; farmer union to decide

Late on February 18, during the fourth round of talks between the farmer leaders and union ministers, a key proposal by the Union has been tabled before the farmer leaders on the issue of a minimum support price guarantee. As has been reported by media, the said proposal states that government agencies would buy three pulse crops, maize, and cotton at MSP for five years after entering into a legal contract with farmers. Notably, the meeting held yesterday in Chandigarh had gone on for almost 5 hours, lasting late till 1.30 am.

The panel of three union ministers, namely Piyush Goyal (Food Minister), Arjun Munda (Union Agriculture Minister) and Nityanand Rai (Minister of State for Home Affairs), had been engaging in talks with farmer leaders Jagjit Singh Dallewal (convener of SKM non-political), Sarwan Singh Pandher (coordinator of the Kisan Mazdoor  Morcha) and Jarnail Singh in hopes to find a solution to the demands being raised by the farmers as a part of their ‘Delhi Chalo’ protest and the said proposal comes as the latest development. The union ministers and farmer leaders had met earlier on February 8, 12 and 15 but talks remained inconclusive.

As per the statement given by Goyal in regards to the proposal tabled, “The government promoted cooperative societies like NCCF (National Cooperative Consumers’ Federation of India) and NAFED (National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India) will form a contract for the next 5 years and buy products from the farmers on MSP. There will be no limit on the quantity.”

Goyal further emphasised on their “out-of-the-box thinking” in regards to this proposal as it focuses on diversification into pulses, cotton, and maize, with assurances of MSP without quantity limitations. To his press address, he added “This approach will save Punjab's farming, improve the groundwater table, and save the land, which is already under stress, from getting barren.” As per a report of the India Today, the Union Minister also mentioned that several policy matters discussed require broader representation and cannot be finalised immediately. He assured that these discussions would continue, taking into account the upcoming elections and the need for comprehensive policy solutions.

While the proposal can be deemed as a step forward by the union government, it does not fully cater to the demands being raised by the protesting farmers, which had asked for a law on MSP to be brought in that would provide a legal guarantee to all 23 crops of which the Union government decides MSP every year. It is in this view that after the proposal was tabled, the farmers refused to commit at the spot and sought time from the union ministers to discuss the proposal at their forums over the next two days and then decide the future course of action.

As per the report of the Wire, farmer leader Dallewal also addressed the media and stated that they will discuss the proposal by the government with their respective forums and experts and “Then, we will come to a conclusion.” Notably, the farmer leaders have also announced that their ‘Delhi Chalo’ protest will also be on stand-by till the farmers are perusing over the proposal. Pandher said a discussion on loan waivers and other demands is pending. It has been clarified by the farmer leaders that if no result is meted out by then on all issues, they will resume their protest from 11 am on February 21. As per media reports, farmer leader Pandher said, “Our ‘Delhi Chalo’ will continue from February 21 if no final result comes out in next two days. We have other demands apart from MSP.”

It is pertinent to highlight here that the ‘Delhi Chalo’ protest had begun on February 13 on the call made by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha- Non-Political and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, whereby more than 200 farmers’ unions, mostly from Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Punjab, were to march to Delhi to demand Union’s action on their long-standing demand of enactment of a law to guarantee MSP for their produce. Besides MSP, the farmers also demanded the implementation of the Swaminathan Commission’s recommendations which provided for safeguarding the interest of small farmers and addressing the issue of increasing risk overtaking agriculture as a profession. In addition to this, pensions for farmers and farm labourers, farm debt waiver, withdrawal of police cases and “justice” for victims of the Lakhimpur Kheri violence also form a part of the demands made. Lastly, farmers also demanded for 200 days’ daily wage and Rs 700 per daily wage for MNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act) workers.

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, who was also present at the talks on Sunday, advocated for crop diversification while also urging for the lifting of the internet suspension in certain areas. As per a report of the India Today, Mann stated that the next decisions regarding the government's proposals will come from the farmer unions. “The ball is now in the farmers' court,” he said, adding that "no door is closed" for further dialogue. It is essential to note that the suspension of internet services has been extended in certain areas of Punjab districts, including Patiala, Sangrur, and Fatehgarh Sahib, until February 24. The Haryana government has also suspended mobile internet services and bulk SMS in several districts, including Ambala, Kurukshetra, and Hisar.

Samyukt Kisan Morcha to continue with sit-in protests to maintain pressure on the government

Despite the temporary pause announced by the KMM and SKM (non-political) farmer leaders in the ‘Delhi Chalo’ protest, farmer leaders belonging to the Samyukta Kisan Morcha have announced further protests to maintain pressure on the government to meet their demands. As per the report of India Today, the farmers’ union plans to conduct mass protests outside the residences of Bharatiya Janata Party leaders in Punjab for three days, and make toll barriers free for commuters from February 20 to 22. The SKM National Coordination Committee and general body have also announced that they meet on February 21 and 22 to take stock of the situation and decide future plans of action to intensify the ongoing struggles.

Their main demand is for immediate action to be taken in accordance with the agreements that had been made by the union with the SKM on December 2, 2021, at the time of withdrawing the farmers’ protests against three farm laws. Notably, these MSP as recommended by the M.S. Swaminathan Committee, comprehensive loan waiver, no privatisation of electricity, dismissal and prosecution of Union Minister of State for Home Ajay Mishra Teni for his alleged role as a conspirator in Lakhimpur Kheri incident and stop the repression of farmers on the Punjab border.

As per a report of the Hindu, the SKM has also condemned the Narendra Modi government for legalising corruption through electoral bonds and piling up thousands of crores as party funds. This is in regards to the Supreme Court verdict delivered recently wherein they have held the Electoral Bond Scheme to be unconstitutional. As per the report, the SKM alleged that the pro-corporate farm Laws, labour codes, Electricity Act amendments, the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana in which insurance companies have amassed over ₹57,000 crores at the expense of farmers, pre-paid smart meters, sale of profit-making public sector undertakings, privatisation of airports and ports, a host of such legislation and policies are all favours returned to its corporate cronies. “The BJP had accumulated thousands of crores by legalising corruption, deployed it for toppling democratically elected governments as well as influencing elections through massive propaganda, impossible to match for any other political party. The SKM hopes that this verdict will also spur a movement to clear doubts over the EVM by making it a fool-proof mechanism,” the SKM said.

 

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Day 5 of Farmers Protest: BKU (Ekta Ugrahan) holds sit-in protests outside houses of 3 Punjab BJP leaders, farmer leader Pandher demands Ordinance on MSP

As the farmers ‘Delhi Chalo’ protest enters its fifth day, and farmers are forced to stay confined at the two border points of Punjab and Haryana, namely the Shambhu and the Khanauri border points, and face water cannons and rubber pellets, news has emerged that the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) has decided to intensify their agitation further in coming days.

As per a report of the Indian Express, the Bharti Kisan Union (Ekta Ugrahan) are now holding protests outside the residences of three senior Bharatiya Janata Party leaders in the state of Punjab. A two-day dharna, starting February 17, will be held outside the house of BJP Punjab president Sunil Jakhar in Fazilka’s Panjkosi village. In addition to this, protests were also launched outside the houses of BJP leaders Captain Amarinder Singh in Patiala and Kewal Dhillon in Barnala.  These protests will be against the state brutality being shown to the farmers at the Shambu border, where many farmers have sustained serious injuries and one had died, as well as in support of the various demands being raised by them, including a legal guarantee for MSP.

In addition to these three sit-in protests, the union has also stated that they will be holding protests at toll plazas in the state as their extension of support to the "Delhi Chalo" call.

Meanwhile, the state is also intensifying their already excessive actions of suppression.

As per a report of the Hindustan Times, around 100 farmers from different farmers associations were arrested at Thanjavur Railway station, Tamil Nadu on the morning of February 17 as they tried to stage a 'rail roko' protest in front of the Cholan Express. The ‘rail roko’ protest is also in solidarity with the farmers' agitation in New Delhi and against the police action by Haryana Police.

In addition to this, on February 16, the Uttar Pradesh (UP) government invoked the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) and banned any strikes by government employees in all State government departments, corporations, and authorities for a period of six months. The said decision is another state tactic to repress dissent. Notably, ESMA gives the police the power to arrest any such employees found to be violating provisions and conducting strikes without a warrant and imprisonment for a term which may extend up to one year or a fine which may extend to ₹1,000 or both, to any person who instigated a strike which was illegal under the Act.

On the other hand, Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher has raised a demand for the union government to bring an Ordinance on giving a legal guarantee to Minimum Support Price (MSP). The demand comes a day before the fourth round of talks between farm leaders and Union ministers over their various demands.

As per the report of the PTI, Pandher pointed to the power that the union government hold in taking "political" decisions and said, "If it (Centre) brings an ordinance and it can bring it overnight, if it wants so. If the government wants resolution of farmers' protest, then it should bring out an ordinance with an immediate effect that it will enact a law on MSP, then discussion can proceed further."

 

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Day 4 of Farmer Protest: Excessive state force at protestors leads to death of elderly farmer, first death to be reported as of now

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Day 4 of Farmer Protest: Excessive state force at protestors leads to death of elderly farmer, first death to be reported as of now

Tragic news surfaced on the morning of February 16, with an elderly farmer passing away due to cardiac arrest. As reported by local journalists covering the farmers protest, a 65-year-old farmer from Punjab, namely Gyan Singh, died in the early hours of Friday after suffering from a heart attack. Singh had been a part of the ongoing ‘Dilli Chalo’ protest and had been at the protesting at the Shambhu border along with thousands of other farmers. The farmers have alleged that it was the tear gas that was being thrown at the protesters by the State that resulted in his death. As provided by Journalist Garvit Garg of Gaon Savera, “After being hit by tear gas shells, Singh was constantly having breathing troubles.”

Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher also spoke on the death of Gyan Singh and highlighted the issues that the protesting farmers are facing in accessing adequate medicines and food. Speaking to media, Pandher stated “Central government is the reason behind this agitation. We have a lot of people here (Shambhu border) participating in the protest including elders. We are facing difficulties in receiving medicines at the right time and even getting food, and resting.”

The video can be viewed here:

As per a report of the Indian Express, Singh hailed from Chacheki village in Gurdaspur district. Jagdish Singh, nephew of the deceased, provided that around 3 am on Friday, while Singh was sleeping in a trolley along with five other farmers about a kilometre away from the Shambhu barrier site, Gyan Singh reported feeling uneasy.

“We called the ambulance parked near Shambhu police station and took him to Rajpura civil hospital. However, he was referred to Rajindra Medical College, Patiala, as he was feeling breathless. Oxygen supply was given to him in the ambulance. By 5 am, we reached the medical college but he died at around 7.45 am at the hospital,” Jagdish stated while speaking to The Indian Express.

The news of the death of the elderly farmer had also been confirmed by the Patiala Deputy Commissioner Showkat Ahmad Parray. As per the IE report, Parray stated that “The farmer has died of cardiac arrest as per medical records.”

Gyan Singh’s nephew provided that the deceased was a bachelor and stayed with his nephews. The nephew Jagdish further elaborated upon the allegations of Gyan Singh having died due to inhaling tear gas that was thrown at the protesting farmers by the Haryana police and said that “On February 13, when shelling started, my uncle had gone near that location where tear gas shells were being lobbed. He inhaled it and had been feeling uneasy since then. He had even taken medicine from a stall set up by Khalsa aid…he was in the trolley since February 11 as we left our village on February 11, halted at Beas and reached Fatehgarh Sahib on February 12.”

A Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee member provided that the deceased Gyan Singh was a regular at protests and had also participated in the farmers agitation against farm laws in 2020-2021. Gurlal Singh, a KMSC member from Amritsar, provided that Gyan Singh had remained on borders for most of the time during the protest against the three contentious farm laws. Sarvan Singh Pandher, farmer leader and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) coordinator highlighted the injuries being caused by the excessive use of force by the State of Haryana and the union government and said, “The government needs to see how they should treat the farmers as they are on the roads protesting for their rights. Already, they have injured many of our farmers.”

It is essential to note that as the protest enters its fourth day, more than one hundred farmers have reportedly suffered serious injuries till now. As per a report of the Hindustan Times, these serious injuries have resulted in amputations, fractures and head injuries. As per a report of the Indian Express, three farmers have lost their vision from pellet injuries. The loss of eyesight occurred due to the farmers being hit in the eyes by rubber pellets by the Haryana Police on the Punjab-Haryana border to stop the farmers from marching towards Delhi.

Details of the third meeting between the farmer leaders and the union ministers

Meanwhile, the third rounds of talk that took place yesterday between the Union ministers and farmer leaders in Chandigarh yielded no result. As per the posts of Journalist Garvit Garg, the union ministers reached Chandigarh after 8 pm on February 15 for the said meeting that was supposed to take place at 5 pm. The third round of talks had taken place between Piyush Goyal (Food Minister), Arjun Munda (Union Agriculture Minister) and Nityanand Rai (Minister of State for Home Affairs) and the farmer leaders Jagjit Singh Dallewal, Sarwan Singh Pandher and Jarnail Singh.

The Red Mike journalist Saurabh Shukla also posted an interview with a farmer leader who was present at the said meeting. As narrated by the said leader, the union ministers did not have anything to say when they were shown the tear gas cans being thrown at the farmers and the rubber bullets being fired by the Haryana Police. Rather, the union minister reportedly dodged the questions by stating that these actions are being taken by the state of Haryana. It is pertinent to note here that the state government of Haryana is led by the Bharatiya Janata Party.

The farmer leader clearly stated that while many topics were spoken about at the meeting, the farmers held onto their demand for a law on the minimum support price (MSP) and stated that they will continue with their protest that the demand for MSP as well as other demands are met with. They leader also highlighted that the Punjab government has stated that they will bear the expense of the protests that are being hospitalised.

Answering to the question of industries and people being affected by the protest, the farmer leader clarified that the farmers had to march to Delhi and would have protested at the site allotted to them, but it is the government itself that is creating blockages for everyone. He further elaborated that their plan was to protest on one side of the road and not to block any roads. Notably, the union ministers have assured the farmer leaders that there will be a cease fire from the union and state governments till the talks are taking place.

The video can be viewed here:

Farmer leader Pandher also spoke to the media in regards to the meeting of the union ministers and the leaders and stated “We had the discussion with the ministers. We will call it a ‘decision’, only if they will practically implement everything that they have said to us in the meeting. It will be our last option to move forward if nothing happens ever after the talk and giving enough time to the government.”

The video can be viewed here:

Notably, the next round of talks is supposed to take place on 6 pm of Sunday at Chandigarh where the union ministers will be presenting a plan.

 

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Day 3 of Farmers’ Protest: More than 100 farmers injured by rubber bullets, solidarity protests by BKU and SKM in Punjab

Worrisome figures of farmers being injured and taken to the hospital emerged on February 15. As the farmers enter the third day of being denied the right to move freely and protest peacefully at the Haryana-Punjab borders, it has been reported that at least 100 farmers have been injured due to the relentless tear gas and rubber pellets being fired by the Haryana Police. As per a report of the Wire, even the journalists covering the farmers protest have not been spared and have faced injuries.

Heart-breaking videos and visuals of protesting farmers bleeding due to injuries caused by rubber bullets have surfaced on social media through various accounts.

 

As per a report of Tribune, the Punjab Government has put on alert all government hospitals in and around Shambu and also deputed medical teams and ambulances at the protest site to help the injured farmers. The government of Punjab also announced that it would bear treatment expenses of injured persons. Meanwhile, a report of the Wire provided that the Delhi Police, falling under the control of the union government, has placed an order for more than 30,000 tear gas shells to replenish its stock to be able to prevent the farmers from entering the national capital as part of its ongoing ‘Dilli Chalo’ protest.

It is also essential to note that while the attack on the protesting farmers is ongoing, a meeting between the farmer leaders and union ministers in Chandigarh began at 5 pm. It is essential to note that this is the third round of talks taking place between Piyush Goyal (Food Minister), Arjun Munda (Union Agriculture Minister) and Nityanand Rai (Minister of State for Home Affairs) and the farmer leaders Jagjit Singh Dallewal, Sarwan Singh Pandher and Jarnail Singh. The previous two rounds of dialogue between the union and the farmers, held on February 8 and 12, had remained inconclusive.

While the State is not backing down and is continuously attacking the protesting farmers and preventing them from reaching Delhi, the farmers too are braving through all these attacks. In dealing with these repressive and excessive tactics of the state government, the farmers have come up with their own unique protections and safeguards.

Hundreds of women protesters also reached Shambhu and were seen helping prepare langar for farmers. A protesting farmer provided to the media that they are organising a 'langar' at the Punjab-Haryana Shambhu Border, where goggles will be distributed among protesting farmers to help them protect from the tear gas shelling by the security forces.

Yesterday, on February 14, in attempts to deal with the drones throwing tear gas at the protestors, the farmers could be seen flying kites.

As per the report of the Hindu, Gagandeep Singh, a farmer protesting at the site, stated how they brought kites to the site to celebrate the festival of Basant Panchami, and ended up bringing the drone down. He said “We brought the kites to celebrate the festival, but then the drones came. Accidentally, the string of the kite got entangled with the fans of the drone, making it difficult for it to fly. We tried to pull it down, but it pulled back and fell on the other side of the barricades.”

Protestors could be seen wearing paddings to protect themselves from the rubber pellets being fired at them

Some farmers were seen applying a thick layer of toothpaste while others took to a mix of multani mitti (mud pack) and water to ease the burning sensation caused by tear gas. Some of them even brought along paddy winnowing fans to change the direction of the smoke emanating from the tear gas shells. Other farmers resorted to tying wet clothes over their faces.

Solidarity protest at toll plazas, ‘rail roko’ protest in Punjab

A four-hour rail roko protest was also organised today by farmer unions Bhartiya Kisan Union Ugrahan and Bhartiya Kisan Union Dakaunda to protesting against the Haryana government’s actions on the protesting farmers at Shambhu and Khanauri borders. The said rail roko protest was held at 15 locations in Punjab between 12 noon to 4 pm and disrupting several rail services as per the report of Indian Express. The IE report detailed that in view of the protest, Ferozepur railway division reported 3 cancellations, 6 diversions, 5 short terminations, and 5 short originations, affecting several routes.

As per the report, this joint protest was aimed to press the government to meet farmers’ demands. BKU Ugrahan President Joginder Singh Ugrahan emphasized unity despite ideological differences, urging the government to address farmers’ concerns promptly. BKU Dakaunda President Manjit Singh Dhaner expressed solidarity, condemning the Haryana government’s treatment of farmers.

Simultaneously, protests were also organised by SKM in solidarity with the protesting farmers at 39 toll plazas in Punjab which featured dharnas from 11 am to 1 pm. Dr. Darshan Pal, member of NCC of SKM, stated that general traffic remained unaffected, and tolls were made free for commuters during the protest. As per the IE report, Dr. Pal criticized the use of force against unarmed farmers and called for the government to implement accepted demands.

In addition to this, farmer leader Gurnam Singh Charuni (Bhartiya Kisan Union) has announced extension of support to the protesting farmers, and announced the new plans for the agitation. As per his statement to media reporters, Charuni has stated that three new decisions have been taken by the farmers in terms of their agitation, which are to make Haryana toll plazas ‘free’ for 3 hours on February 16, hold a tractor parade in every tehsil of the state on February 17, and organise a joint meeting of all farmers' organisations on February 18.

Not all authorities support the excessive use of force by Haryana Police

It is also essential to note that the excessive use of tear gas and rubber pellets by the Haryana police is not sitting well. As per a report of the Tribune, Patiala DC Showkat Ahmad Parray wrote to his Ambala counterpart objecting to drones carrying tear gas shells operating deep inside the territory of Patiala. His letter read, “Tear gas shelling using drones deep inside the territory of the district where police and administration teams are deputed is creating chaos. As such, I request you to immediately stop the use of drones.”

As per a report of the Telegraph, BJP leader Brijendra Singh, Member of Parliament from Hisar has also spoken in favour of the protesting farmers. Justifying the agitation, Hisar said that they have a right to protest against the non-implementation of the MSP regime that was promised after the last agitation.

"Who will not support the farmers who are struggling to get their income increased?" he said while talking to reporters as per the Telegraph report. He also expressed hope that the talks between the farmers' representatives and government functionaries will succeed in resolving the issue.

It is possible to bring a law on MSP- Economist Dr Madhura Swaminathan

In an interview with Rajdeep Sardesai, Dr Madhura Swaminathan, the daughter of Dr MS Swaminathan, firmly with the disagreed the contention, being spread and encouraged by many mainstream media houses, that a law on minimum support price (MSP) cannot be brought in as it may impact India fiscally. Rather, Dr Swaminathan clearly stated that “many economists are going to argue that this is going to be too expensive, like they did in the past in regards to universal food subsidy. We have to ask ourselves the question regarding this is- what does this mean? As you must know, India has one of the lowest Tax to GDP ratio. So, I think to put forth a statement, as many neo-liberal economists do, that you either spend in agricultural research or irrigation or MSP in view of the limited ‘kitty’ for agriculture and for farmers is a wrong way of posing the situation. So I don’t agree with the idea that MSP is not viable.”

She also shares how she was a part of a high-powered committee formed during the governance of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee which had, for the first time, submitted the proposal of a statutory MSP.

In the interview, she also termed the current excessive state actions being taken against the protesting farmers as “distressing” as it is these cultivators who perform the key role in providing food security to the country. She urged for the governments to negotiate with the farmers and address the concerns being raised by them as no nation can maintain their sovereignty without farmers.

When asked by Rajdeep on her opinion on some people, even from within the union government, terming the protesting farmers as anti-nations and Khalistanis, Dr Swaminathan emphasised that there is a justified reason behind the protest being held by the farmers. According to her, it is essential that the union government attends the emerging problems associated with climate change and its effect on agriculture while providing farmers with a sustainable income and ensuring profits. She stated, “one could say that it is perhaps the absence of policies that improve farmer incomes that have finally resulted in mass protests of this kind. We have to address the root causes of the problem of inadequate incomes of farmers.”

She further provided that the agricultural sector of India is not static and various union governments of India have been unable to give it the required attention. Elaborating upon the same, Dr Swaminathan says that these issues cannot just be addressed by negotiations, rather it necessitates for the union government to form a strategy that “serves farmers, and saves farming.”

The interview can be viewed here:

The aforementioned opinion of Dr Swaminathan set straight the record regarding bringing in a law on providing MSP to farmers. Her views are similar to the opinion put forth by Journalist Harish Damodaran in his article for the Indian Express, wherein he has deeply explained the what a guaranteeing MSP will cost the government. The marketed surplus of a crop is essentially the total production minus the amount retained by the farmers for self-consumption and meeting other needs.  Through his article, Damodaran has projected the cost of providing a legal guarantee on the marketed surplus of the crops for which an MSP is announced to be Rs 5 lakh crore. He has further explained how the actual cost is likely to be even lower than Rs 5 lakh crore owing to two reasons- firstly, the government will also be selling the material that they will buy directly from the farmers at the MSP, and secondly, the government will not be required to buy all the marketed surplus as by just buying a fourth of it will ensure that the market price will be lifted above the MSP level in case of most crops, as provided by Damodaran. Thus, as clarified by Dr Swaminathan and Damodaran, a legal guarantee on MSPs is doable and fiscally possible, and the fear being spread of the Indian economy plunging into bankruptcy is unfounded.

 

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Protesting farmers spend Basant Panchami facing government’s water cannons and tear gases’ government withholds social media accounts of farm leaders, journalists

Protesting farmers spend Basant Panchami facing government’s water cannons and tear gases’ government withholds social media accounts of farm leaders, journalists

"Don't treat farmers like they are criminals" said Dr. Madhura Swaminathan, Economist and daughter of Professor MS Swaminathan, while celebrating the conferring of Bharat Ratna award to her father, who was a global leader and an agricultural scientist. The said request was made in reference to the excessive and unjustified state action being taken against the farmers who are participating in the farmers march to Delhi to demand for a law guaranteeing minimum support price (MSP) for their produce along with six other demands. Ironically, one of the demands raised by the protesting farmers is for the implementation of the Swaminathan Commission’s recommendations that provided for safeguarding the interest of small farmers and addressing the issue of increasing risk overtaking agriculture as a profession. 

In her interview, Dr. Madhura Swaminathan could be further heard saying that "Today, the farmers of Punjab are marching to Delhi. There are jails being prepared, there are barricades and all kinds of things in place to prevent them. These are farmers, they are not criminals. I request all of you, the leading scientists of India, we must talk to our Annadatas (food providers). We cannot treat them as criminals. We have to find solutions, please, this is my request that if we have to continue to honour MS Swaminathan, we have to take the farmers with us in whatever strategy we are planning for the future."

Hopefully, the ones who conferred this prestigious award to Professor MS Swaminathan will also hear the pleadings of his daughter and take back the repressive and unjust tactics being employed against the unarmed farmers exercising their right to protest.  

The struggle to march to Delhi by farmers continues

Since yesterday, visuals of tear gas, water cannons and rubber pellets being fired at the protesting farmers have been surfacing from the Shambu border of Haryana. Even today, videos show the Haryana police relentlessly targeting the protesting farmers, fully determined to prevent the farmers from being able to reach the national capital. A report by the Hindu stated that the Haryana Police became the first police force in India to use drones to launch tear gas devices with the Haryana Police dropping tear gas shells from unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) on protesting farmers at Shambhu Barrier on the Punjab-Haryana boundary. As per the report, a police official has stated that the State government used drones made by Drone Imaging and Information Service of Haryana Limited (DRIISHYA), a public limited company incorporated in 2021. Interestingly, according to a Haryana government press release of April 4, 2023, the said drones had been designed for “surveying infrastructure projects, monitoring of agriculture and horticulture crops, and surveillance of sensitive areas for security purposes.” As per the report of the Hindu, the company is located at Karnal. 

Visuals of farmers flying kites at the border in attempts to tackle the drones have surfaced on social media. Ironically, the festival of Basant Panchami also falls today, on February 14. This festival is supposed to be joyfully celebrated by Sikhs and Hindus to mark the beginning of spring. The ones celebrating the festival wear yellow-coloured clothes to emulate the bright yellow mustard flowers in the fields. This year, the farmers had to spend it facing the state’s unjust display of power.

On February 14, a press note was also sent by the All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) to media personnel and others through which they have condemned the violent repression unleashed on farmers marching to Delhi at Shanbhu Border and other places. In the press note, the AIKS had stated “The use of drones to throw teargas, the concrete barricades, rubber bullets, huge iron spikes on the roads and the indiscriminate arrests of farmers and leaders exposes the barbaric face of the BJP Government led by Narendra Modi. The use of drones to drop tear gas on farmers shows the extreme vengeance that this BJP Government holds for the farmers of our country. AIKS warns the BJP Government to desist from such attacks on democratic right to protest. AIKS will join in unity with all democratic forces as well as the Samyukta Kisan Morcha and the Joint Platform of Central Trade Unions to resist such repressive measures. AIKS demands release of all arrested leaders and end repression.”

Along with this, the AIKS had called for the farmers to re-double their efforts in the upcoming protest of February 16 where the Samyukta Kisan Morcha, which had super headed the previous one year long farmers protest against the three controversial farm laws, have collaborated with ten Central Trade Unions (CTUs) to hold a rural and industrial strike.

The press note states “AIKS calls upon all its units to redouble efforts to rally farmers and workers as well as all democratic sections on 16th February across the country by also prominently taking a campaign on the repression unleashed along with other issues of the struggle. The incessant protests by farmers and workers are a result of repeated betrayals by Narendra Modi and the BJP Government. The move by the BJP Government to unleash violence on farmers is a sign of desperation. It is a clear sign that their divisive efforts of communal polarisation are being rebuffed by the farmers, workers and masses of our country. Its efforts to divert attention from people’s problems and livelihood issues, unemployment, poverty, hunger through communal polarisation and hate campaign is clearly failing. It is their sense of fear of the people’s unity that they are reacting in such a manner.”

‘X’ (formerly Twitter) accounts of those posting on the farmers protest withheld

As per multiple media reports, over a dozen social media accounts of farmer leaders and those posting updates on the farmer protests have been withheld by ‘X’ (formerly Twitter). As per a report of The Wire, X and Facebook accounts that were allegedly functioning as the official pages of farmers’ organisations and unions ahead of their ‘Delhi Chalo’ protest have been withheld in India – ostensibly upon government request.

It is pertinent to highlight here that the blocking of the social media accounts of farmers began even before their protest did. As per the report of the Wire, accounts of farmers were withheld on February 12. This ban on social media accounts is in addition to the prohibition on internet services as well as bulk SMS services being in place in seven districts of Haryana since February 11. 

Till now, X accounts and Facebook pages of prominent farmer leaders like Sarvan Singh Pandher, the coordinator of Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM), Tejveer Singh Ambala, the spokesperson of BKU (Shaheed Bhagat Singh), farmer leader Ramandeep Singh Mann, Surjit Singh Phull from BKU Krantikari, farmer leader Harpal Sangha, Ashok Danoda from Haryana and many others have been withheld. As per multiple media reports including the Wire, official pages which supported the movement and posted updates on it, like @Tractor2twitr_P run by Bhavjit Singh, Bhartiya Kisan Union (Shaheed Bhagat Singh) and Progressive Farmers Front, run by Guramneet Singh Mangat have also been banned. Notably, BKU (SBS) is one of the main farmer unions which was leading the farmers’ protest from Ambala, Haryana.

‘Gaon Sawera’, a page run by independent journalist Mandeep Punia has been withheld, as has been Mandeep’s personal page. Mandeep is a prominent name supporting the farmers’ protest and had been arrested in 2020.  Garvit Garg, another journalist from Gaon Savera is not providing frequent updates from the farmers protest.

It is important to highlight here that this is not the first time that the government of India has abused their powers and opaquely withholding social media accounts as even during earlier farmers’ protest of 2020, the Union government had banned many social media accounts including the official page of Kisan Ekta Morcha.

Related:

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Two journalists seriously injured amid Farmers’ Protests, DUJ condemns police action, ask for farmers demands to be settled

In a statement issued Wednesday afternoon, the Delhi Union of Journalists (DUJ) expressed deep concern that journalists are among those injured by police action during the farmers’ protests. Two journalists, Satender Chauhan and Niel Bhalinder Singh, suffered injuries while covering the protests at the Shambhu border yesterday.

Satender Chauhan, correspondent for Aajtak, was ‘live’ on the channel when he was hit by a ‘chharra’ in the eye area. The channel showed a colleague helping him to leave the spot. He was taken to hospital. Niel Bhalinder Singh of the Savera group of newspapers was taken to hospital bleeding heavily as a tear gas shell fired by a drone fell on his head. Unconfirmed reports have also come in regarding injuries to other journalists.

The Patiala Media Club and the Chandigarh Press Club have demanded safety for journalists covering such events. The DUJ is also concerned at the Internet shutdown imposed in seven districts of Haryana and three districts of Rajasthan which has made it extremely difficult for journalists to cover the protests. They also note that social media accounts of some journalists including Mandeep Punia of Gaon Savera have been taken down.

In this statement issued by Sujata Madhok President and AM Jigees, general secretary, the DUJ condemned the violence on protesting farmers that has led to injuries and hospitalizations. They urged the central government to ensure that the farmers’ demands are settled amicably.

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Farmers Protest: Braving tear gas, blockades, state obstructions, farmers journey towards Delhi to demand law on MSP

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Farmers Protest: Braving tear gas, blockades, state obstructions, farmers journey towards Delhi to demand law on MSP

On the morning of February 13, the farmers began with their march towards the national capital to participate in the Farmers’ march to demand for a law guaranteeing minimum support price (MSP) for their produce along with six other demands, which include implementation of the Swaminathan Commission’s recommendations that provide for safeguarding the interest of small farmers and addressing the issue of increasing risk overtaking agriculture as a profession, pensions for farmers and farm labourers, farm debt waiver, withdrawal of police cases and “justice” for victims of the Lakhimpur Kheri violence also form a part of the demands made. A demand for 200 days’ daily wage and Rs 700 per daily wage for MNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act) workers also form a part of their demands. 

But, for those who began their march in northern Haryana and Punjab states, the journey to reach Delhi will be not easy as extensive attempts to stop the farmers are being made by the state and union governments. Visuals from the Haryana border have been surfacing since the morning, showcasing the repressive tactics being used by the Haryana government, including tear gas, water cannons and even rubber pellets, while stopping the farmers from joining their peaceful march and exercise their right to protest. As was reported yesterday, Haryana police had sealed multiple entry points into the capital with barriers of giant metal containers, barbed wire, spikes and cement blocks and had even suspended internet service and bulk SMS services in some districts of Haryana state. 

Today, the Haryana police indulged in dropping tear gas canisters on the protesting farmers from a drone at one of the border points in northern Haryana state that leads to New Delhi. Pictures emerged on social media that showed thick clouds of tear gas being used to disperse the farmers near the city of Ambala.

Here are some visual from the ground. These visuals show protestors being detained by the police. 

The farmers could be seen braving through these state tactics of suppression.

The unjustified usage of such state actions against unarmed farmers was unproportional as the farmers and the leaders of the farmers union kept reiterating their objective of peacefully protesting for their demands. Sarvan Singh Pandher, general secretary of the Punjab Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee told ANI news agency that "We will move peacefully and our objective is that the government listens to our demands."

He additionally said “We do not want to break any barricades. We want a resolution of our issues through dialogue. But if they (the government) do nothing, then what will we do? It is our compulsion.” 

A video of Pandher can be viewed here:

A group of Tamil Nadu farmers in Trichy also lent support to 'Delhi Chalo' farmers' protest. These farmers could be seen sitting on a road and exercising their right to protest and show solidarity freely and without any state interference. In a video, farmer leader P Ayyakannu can be heard saying, "As per the Constitution, we can move freely within the country for our rights but the police are not allowing farmers to protest in Delhi. If PM Modi contests from any constituency in Tamil Nadu in the coming elections, then farmers will file nomination against him from that constituency."

His video can be viewed here:

Bharatiya Kisan Union president and Farmer leader Naresh Tikait also showed his solidarity and support with the protesting farmers, urging for the Modi-led union government to hold talks with the farmers, alleging that the Bharatiya Janata Party’s “stubborn approach” is proving to be dangerous. He stated that "Protests are underway in the entire country...The government should sit with us and hold discussions and give respect to the farmers. Government should think about this issue and try to solve this." The BKU also chief wondered whether the farmers will always be in the agitation mode, blocking roads or heading towards Delhi.

His video can be viewed here:

Farmer leader Rakesh Tikait also extended his support for the protesting farmers and said that if the BJP-led Haryana government or the Union government tried to create problems for these farmers then he is not far from them and could join the protest anytime.

“MSP guarantee law and Swaminathan Committee report, Electricity amendment bill and debt waiver are the issues of the farmers across the country. There are several farmer unions and they have different issues. If the government creates a problem for these farmers who are marching towards Delhi, we are not far from them. We are in support of them," Rakesh Tikait could be heard telling ANI. 

His video can be viewed here:

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Farmers’ Protest: Physical repression, prohibitory orders, Delhi entry blocked – Déjà Vu?

Farmer leaders detained in Madhya Pradesh, made to sit at police stations, saw police raids at night- attempts to stop farmers from joining protest intensify

Farmer leaders detained in Madhya Pradesh, made to sit at police stations, saw police raids at night- attempts to stop farmers from joining protest intensify

Since the morning of February 11, social media is full of videos and photos showcasing the security measures being employed by the state government of Haryana and the union government against the protestors gearing up for the ‘Chalo Delhi’ march to be scheduled to take place on February 13. Reports show the repressive tactics that the State is using in attempts to prohibit the protesting farmers from reaching Delhi, which include imposition of internet shutdown, sealing of borders, cement barricades, spikes, barbed wires and deployment of paramilitary forces, as they prepare for the scheduled protest. Notably, a petition has been moved before the Punjab and Haryana High Court challenging these aforementioned "obstructive actions" of the Union and State governments with the objective of "preventing the farmers from exercising their constitutional right to assembly and protest peacefully."

The said plea has been moved by Uday Pratap Singh, a Chandigarh based lawyer, to urge judicial intervention and issuance of an urgent interim order to stay these “obstructive actions”. It is also essential to note that through the said petition, the plea has also raised questions against the suspension of mobile internet services and bulk SMS in several districts of Haryana including Ambala, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Jind, Hisar, Fatehabad, and Sirsa. As per a report of LiveLaw, the petition has highlighted that these suspension of services "further exacerbate the situation, depriving the citizens of their right to information and communication."

The petitioner has also emphasised upon the constant denial of the authorities to hear and take action on the demands being raised by the farmers in regards to Minimum Support Price. As per a report in LiveLaw, the petitioner has stated "The arbitrary and illegal non-payment of Minimum Support Price sparked a deep sense of discontentment and betrayal among the hardworking farmers of the state. This unjust decision inflicted trauma upon the impoverished farming community. Despite the farmers' pleas for the government to honour their rightful demand for at least the minimum support price (MSP) for their produce, the authorities have turned a deaf ear to their concerns." 

Claiming the actions being undertaken by the State to be violative of the fundamental rights of citizens to move freely and assemble peaceful, guaranteed to citizens under Article 19 of the Constitution, the petitioner seeks for an independent inquiry into alleged arbitrary actions, including police intimidation and installation of obstacles.

Meanwhile, a meeting between the farm leaders and three members of the Union cabinet is supposedly taking place in Chandigarh. These ministers, namely Piyush Goyal (Food Minister), Arjun Munda (Union Agriculture Minister) and Nityanand Rai (Minister of State for Home Affairs), are holding a second round of these talks with the farmer leaders to address their concerns and demands. It is essential to note that at the first talk, the three ministers had told the farmers that their demands could not be accepted without consulting multiple Ministries.

Many detained, many face hurdles in reaching Delhi

As per a report of The Telegraph, around a hundred farmers from Karnataka, who were travelling in train to Delhi with the aim of taking part in the scheduled protest, were stopped at Bhopal by the state police. These claims were made by Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) South India Convenor Shanthakumar during a press conference. As per the report, Shanthakumar stated that he was also travelling with the group in the train and "the police stopped us at the Bhopal station, and some of our members were injured," as per Telegraph. Shanthakumar also provided that he was somehow able to reach the national capital still.

At the same conference meeting, Shanthakumar also clarified that around 23 Mahapanchayat meetings had been held across the country before announcing the march, and the protest had been planned three months before and were not spontaneous.

As per a report of the Hindu, SKM- Non-Political leader Shiv Kumar Kakka, who is also a former RSS functionary, had been detained by the Madhya Pradesh police on February 11. Kakka was on his way to Chandigarh when the said arrest had taken place. As per his statement, Kakka was about to board a train to participate in the second round of talks with the union ministers. According to the Hindu report, Kakka said “I was about to board a train to Chandigarh to participate in Monday’s discussions. I was arrested and taken to the police station. I understand that hundreds of SKM-NP’s activists have also been sent to jail. I was released after three hours. But I will go to Chandigarh at any cost to participate in the protests. The Centre is vitiating the atmosphere by arresting farmers.” 

A report of Naiduniya reported that farmer leaders of the United Kisan Morcha and its associated organizations were being arrested in different districts of Madhya Pradesh. The report asserts that about 150 farmer leaders of the state have been detained at the police station, while many are being sent to jail. As provided by the report, Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) state president Anil Yadav was arrested from MP Nagar Bhopal police station, Mahendra Singh Tomar from Rajgarh, senior Kisan Sabha leader Ramnarayan Kureria from Jabalpur. District Vice President of Kisan Sangharsh Committee in Gwalior, Shatrughan Yadav and Shiv Kumar Kakka have been arrested in Bhopal. 

Rakesh Tikait, farmer leader and national spokesperson of BKU, took to ‘X’ (formerly Twitter) to express his anguish at the arrest of farmer leaders by the authorities of Madhya Pradesh and demand their release. In his post, Tikait stated “On the instructions of the Central Government, the state president of Madhya Pradesh Anil Yadav and Aradhana Bhargava have been arrested by the police and sent to jail. The government wants to make Bharat Bandh unsuccessful and suppress the voice of farmers. The government should release them with immediate effect.”

His post can be viewed here:

In addition to this, Indore saw leaders associated with farmer organizations being made to sit in the police station, including the Depalpur and Saver police stations, on the morning of February 12. It was asserted by them that the arrests of the farmer leaders were a part of the government’s attempt to stop the march to Delhi by the United Kisan Morcha on February 13 and to suppress the call for Gramin Bharat Bandh on February 16. It has been alleged by many that the state police also arrested houses of farm leaders late in the evenings of February 11. 

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah also posted on ‘X’ regarding the detention of the famer leaders and highlighted the intimidation tactic of the BJP-led state government of Madhya Pradesh. In his post, Siddaramaiah condemned the said detentions and wrote “By arresting and intimidating them, the farmers' struggle cannot be suppressed. Such repression might only lead more farmers to take to the streets, but the struggle of the sons and daughters of the soil will not cease. If the central government truly cares about peace and order, it should immediately meet the demands of the farmers and resolve the issue, rather than repressing and brutalizing them to silence. Whether it's at the center or in the states, whenever BJP comes to power, history bears witness that their first act of aggression is against the farmers. The first time BJP came to power in Karnataka, farmers asking for fertilizer were ruthlessly shot down by the government led by B.S. Yediyurappa. Several farmers died due to the violence inflicted on protesting farmers in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh by Narendra Modi's government at the center.”

His post can be viewed here:

Another protest by farmers announced, this time by SKM

The original SKM, which had super headed the previous one year long farmers protest against the three controversial farm laws, have also announced a rural and industrial strike on February 16, in collaboration with ten Central Trade Unions (CTUs). As per the report of the Hindu, in a joint statement here on Sunday, the SKM and the unions urged the Narendra Modi-led union government to learn lessons from the growing discontent among the farming community and workers of European countries and reconsider its pro-corporate policies, which are being intensified in India.

“SKM has strongly objected to the policy proposed by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to permit corporate forces, including trans-national corporations, to take over post-harvest operations in agriculture, control and dominate food production, and the value-added consumer product market. Corporate agriculture is not a panacea for the agrarian crisis; rather, it will further deteriorate the plight of the farmers and workers in India,” the statement said.

In furtherance to this, the SKM has also asserted said that the rural bandh on February 16 would take place from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m., with all agricultural activities, works under MGNREGA scheme, and other rural and farm works being boycotted. “The supply and purchase of vegetables, other crops will remain suspended; all the village shops, grain markets, vegetable markets, government and non-government offices, rural, industrial and service sector institutions and enterprises in private sector are requested to remain closed. The shops and establishments of towns remain closed for the strike hours,” the SKM said, as per the Hindu, adding that normal public and private transport would remain off the roads.

“Ensure passage to emergency services of ambulance, death, marriage, medical shops, newspaper supply, board exam candidates, and passengers to the airport,” the SKM said in the statement.

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Farmers' Protest: Physical repression, prohibitory orders, Delhi entry blocked - Déjà Vu?

The proposed farmers’ protest, namely ‘Chalo Delhi’, to be held on February 13 has shaken the union and the state governments once again, resulting in the governments employing repressive tactics against the protesting farmers in attempts to stop them from entering Delhi. From sealing of borders, cement barricades, converting stadiums into make-shift prisons to imposing prohibitory orders, deploying para-military and imposing internet shutdowns, the state and union governments are leaving no stone unturned from ensuring that the protests do not take place.

This is reminiscent of the farmers’ protest of the year 2020, while the country was grappling with corona virus, farmers of India were protesting against the controversial farm laws that had been introduced by the Modi government, demanded for its repeal. Their protest of one year, which also saw the union and the state government employing repressive and violent tactics and resulting in the loss of many protestors, , had reaped results with the union government taking back the three laws in November of 2021. The farmers, who had welcomed the decision with opens arms on the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak, had even then said that their fight is far from over as their union government is yet to address their demands.

It is essential to highlight here that on the evening of February 8, a three-membered team of Union ministers, namely Piyush Goyal, Arjun Munda and Nityanand Rai, had held a detailed discussion with the leaders of farmer organisations. As per the Week, the said meeting had also saw the attendance of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. As stated by Jagjit Singh Dallewal, representing the farmers union, "We had a meeting with the Government today. The meeting was held in a positive atmosphere, Punjab Govt took the initiative. We presented all our demands in detail, with facts...The government listened to us & said that they will examine all our facts seriously."

It was also provided by the leader that while the union ministers have assured them that they would hold a second round of the meeting soon, their proposed ‘Delhi Chalo’ march on February 13 still stands.

"Our programme for 13th February will continue as it is", Dallewal had asserted.

The second meeting with the same three union ministers is to be held today, on February 12, at 5 pm in Chandigarh as provided by Punjab Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee general secretary Sarvan Singh Pandher.

The march, the demands

The Samyukta Kisan Morcha- Non-Political and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha had recently announced ‘Delhi Chalo’ march by more than 200 farmers’ unions, mostly from Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Punjab, on February 13 to demand from the union government to accept their long-standing demand of enactment of a law to guarantee a minimum support price (MSP) for their produce. A gathering of lakhs of participants in the protest is being anticipated. It is crucial to point out that that a law on MSP by the union government was one of the conditions that the farmers had set when they agreed to withdraw their agitation in 2021. Even after more than two years, the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Union government is yet to deliver their promises.

To provide a brief of the importance of MSP, a minimum support price is the rate at which the government buys farm produce and is based on a calculation of at least one and a half times the cost of production incurred by farmers.

Besides a legal guarantee for minimum support price (MSP), the farmers are also demanding implementation of the Swaminathan Commission’s recommendations which provided for safeguarding the interest of small farmers and addressing the issue of increasing risk overtaking agriculture as a profession. In addition to this, pensions for farmers and farm labourers, farm debt waiver, withdrawal of police cases and “justice” for victims of the Lakhimpur Kheri violence also form a part of the demands made. As provided by Mandeep Punia, a local journalist from Punjab and Haryana, they farmers have also raised a demand for 200 days' daily wage and Rs 700 per daily wage for MNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act) workers.

 The preparation by governments to impede, supress protest

Haryana: To join the march in Delhi, farmers have planned to come from the Ambala-Shambhu border, Khanauri-Jind and the Dabwali border. As per multiple media reports, ahead of farmers proposed ‘Delhi Chalo’ march, 50 companies of central paramilitary forces have been deployed by the Haryana Police with the aim of “maintaining law and order” in the state. As per a report on India Today, the authorities asserted the reason behind using paramilitary force is to ensure that nobody will be allowed to disturb peace and harmony. Notably, these central paramilitary forces comprise of Rapid Action Force and Central Reserve Police Force.

As per the statement given by a senior Haryana Police officer to the PTI, request for deploying 65 companies as paramilitary force had been made but only 50 were given. The officer stated that “Where these forces need to be deployed, we have done that.”

The India Today report also provides that the police have asked the farmers to not participate in the march without attaining the required permission and have also warned of strict action if they damage public property. Threats of compensation of any loss to government property caused to be compensated by attaching the property and seizing bank accounts of the protesters have also been issued by the police officials. Furthermore, they have also cautioned the farmers from giving their vehicles on rent or to any farmer, threatening to impound such vehicles and cancel its registration.

A video of police officials going around villages in the state and making such threats also surfaced on social media. In the video, posted by a local reporter named Mandeep Punia, police can be heard using a loud speaker and stating that any villager is found to be participating in the protest will have strict action taken against them, have their vehicles seized and their passports cancelled.

The video can be viewed here:

It is critical to emphasise here that to stop the farmers from protesting, as provided by the India Today report, the police have stocked up concrete blocks, barbed wire, sandbags, barricades and other items at the Shambhu border in Ambala to stop the protesters from marching towards the national capital. As per officials, directions have been issued by police official to petrol pump dealers in Ambala for not giving fuel to those who are sporting farmer’s union flags on their vehicles. Additionally, the police officials have stated that water cannon vehicles and drone have also been deployed at the Shambhu border. The Ambala district magistrate has imposed Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) in the district. These repressive tactics by the state come as the farmer unions in Ambala make preparations for the ‘Delhi Chalo’ march.

As per a report in the Livemint, the BJP-led state government of Haryana has also made other elaborate arrangements besides security, and have sealed the state's border joining Punjab with barbed wires and concrete blocks to hamper the proposed 'Dilli Chalo' march by the agitated farmers. According to the statement of a senior police official in Jind district, from the India Today report, arrangements to seal entry point from Punjab include barbed wires, containers, barricades and concrete blocks, etc. In furtherance to this, the Haryana government has also suspended internet services in seven districts of the State from February 11 till February 13 and has ordered for bulk SMS services to be suspended. As per India Today, till the writing of this report, services have been suspended in districts including Ambala, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Jind, Hisar, Fatehabad and Sirsa.

Visual from Shambhu border can be viewed here:

As per the report of Times of India, the Haryana police had laid a five layered barricading at the Nation Highway with concrete blocks, jersey barriers, spikes, barbed wires and iron barricades. The same can be viewed through the video:

Notably, as per the TOI report, a mock drill had also been conducted by the Haryana police at Shambhu Border wherein the police had fired tear gas shells at some youth who had gathered on Punjab side.

Delhi: On February 11, an order imposing Section 144 of the CrPC was issued by the Delhi Police through which large gatherings were prohibiting at all borders between the national capital and Uttar Pradesh, as per Hindustan Times. The same prohibitory orders have also been imposed in areas under the jurisdiction of the North-East Delhi district. Under the said order, vehicles carrying protestors from entering Delhi have also been banned. It is essential to note that the orders imposed in Delhi will be active from February 11, Sunday, and will remain in place till March 11, 2024.

“Information has been received that some farmer organisations have given a call to their supporters to gather/march to Delhi on 13th February for their demands of the law on MSP and others. They are likely to sit at the border of Delhi till their demands are met. In order to avoid any untoward incident and to maintain Law & Order, a precautionary Order of section 144 Criminal Procedure Code, 1973, is required to be issued to save the lives and property in the area", Delhi Police told ANI.

The social media post can be viewed here:

Make-shift jails for those detained:

As per a report of the NDTV, the Haryana government has converted two large stadiums, namely the Chaudhary Dalbir Singh Indoor Stadium in Sirsa, and Guru Gobind Singh Stadium in Dabwali, into makeshift jails ahead of the planned march with the objective of them serving as temporary jails to keep detained farmers. As provided in the said report, sources have stated that in case of any untoward situation during the march, farmers who are detained or arrested in large numbers will be kept in the temporary jails.

Media not allowed to cover protest:

As per the report of TOI, even media coverage has not been allowed by the Ambala police, as media persons from the Haryana side were prohibited from reaching the Shambhu border to see the situation and cover the matter. The media persons were stopped at Devi Nagar toll plaza. Furthermore, some media-persons who tried to do coverage from the Patiala, Punjab side, were also stooped and asked to leave the spot by the Haryana police officials.

Refusing to bow down, farmers gear up for protests

Videos of farmers proceeding towards Delhi, in the face of the coercive state employed tactics, have been surfacing on social media. In one such video, police can be seen standing beside the barricades that have been put on the road to restrain farmers from joining the march. As the barricades stand, a tractor going around those barricades with the police unable to stop the protestors from exercising their fundamental right to protest can be seen. Many more protestors can then be seen coming after the tractor, removing the barricades itself and carrying on with their journey to join the march in Delhi.

The video can be viewed here:

Opposition, leaders raise questions on laying of spikes, cement barricades

Aam Aadmi Party leader and Chief Minister of Punjab Bhagwant Mann has urged the Centre to listen to farmers’ demands instead of setting up “borders between India and Punjab”. Expressing his anguish, Mann said “They [Haryana government] are installing fencing on the Punjab border. I request the central government to engage in talks with farmers. Please avoid creating an India-Punjab ‘border’.”

The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) also slammed the state government’s attempts of blocking of roads. "Why is the government scared? Huge barricading is being done. Is this democracy?" SKM leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal rather stated in a message that "If the situation turns bad, it will be the responsibility of the Khattar government."

Indian National Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi took to ‘X’ (formerly Twitter) and wrote that putting such hurdles in the path of farmers is state government’s injustice to their cause. In her post, she said “laying spikes and thorns in the path of farmers is it Amrit Kaal or injustice time? Due to this insensitive and anti-farmer attitude, 750 farmers lost their lives. What kind of characteristic is it of the government to work against the farmers and then not even allowing them to raise their voice? Priyanka said that the central government neither made the MSP law for the farmers nor doubled the income of the farmers. In such a situation, if the farmers do not come to the government, where will they go? He asked the Prime Minister, why is the country’s farmers being treated like this? The promise made to the farmers was not fulfilled.”

The post can be viewed here:

 

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Farmers in Noida, Greater Noida are protesting, which are the farmer unions are leading them

Freezing temperatures do not stop thousands in Leh from protesting to demand statehood, constitutional protections

 

Farmers in Noida, Greater Noida are protesting, which are the farmer unions are leading them

An impressive gathering of farmers from more than 140 villages in Noida and Greater Noida have been seen marching towards Parliament on Thursday after the demands of three farmer unions to resolve their longstanding issues related to land acquisitions have yet to be met. Social media, ‘X’ is flooded with images of impressive tractor rallies and the usual comments from the media of this causing a “traffic snarl.”

At present, there four protests are going on in the Gautam Buddha Nagar district of Uttar Pradesh. The Jai Jawan Jai Kisan organisation heads the protest against the Ansal builders, All India Kisan Sabha against Greater Noida Authority and Bharatiya Kisan Parishad at National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) headquarters in Sector 24 and Noida Authority in Sector 6.

All these organisations have together called a Mahapanchayat on Wednesday at the Greater Noida Authority office, where a decision was taken to march to Parliament on Thursday, demanding the resolution of their issues in a time-bound manner.

The farmers have two major demands. First, as compensation for their land acquired by the authorities for different developmental projects, they demand 10 per cent of residential plots for their families on the developed land.

The farmers also argue that most of their land was acquired making them landless. They ask how their families and future generations would survive even as the government boasts of development by taking their land.

Presently, the Noida Authority grants the farmers 5 per cent of the total acquired land, which they have termed insufficient. The Greater Noida Authority gives them 6 per cent of the developed plot while the Yamuna Authority gives them 7 per cent as land acquisition compensation.

In addition, farmers have demanded additional monetary compensation — amounts based on market rates when the land was acquired for different projects. The farmers allege that their land was acquired many years ago at a cheap rate and they are suffering even now as a consequence.

The farmers have also been demanding jobs and medical facilities for their families for the last several months. The Authority officials said they are in talks with farmer leaders and an amicable solution would be reached soon.

Massive Repression by UP Police

Meanwhile a press release  of the All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) stated that despite the fact that several leaders were put under house arrest, the protest was successful

 Farmers and landless from various villages under the leadership of All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) Gautam Buddha (GB) Nagar district committee, Bharatiya Kisan Parishad and other organisations began the rally on the Yamuna Expressway but were soon barricaded by the UP Police.

The repressive measures of the UP governmenthad started the night before when AIKS GB Nagar district president Comrade Rupesh Verma and convenor Comrade Veer Singh Nagar were arrested and taken to Dadri police station. District president of the AIKS, Jagbir Namberdar has been put under house arrest, along with other leaders. In a disproportionate manner, the UP police also stopped the people from Sadhopur village who were en masse joining the Parliament March and put them in an open jail in a public park. These incidents show the anti-democratic attitude of the UP government towards the rural population of Greater Noida states AIKS

Despite the repression, farmers were able to reach the Yamuna Expressway and are currently blocking the expressway at the police barricading. Their immediate demand is that the UP police must release the leadership as well as release the jailed farmers of Sadhopur village, which include women and elderly as well.

The farmers and landless of the region have been holding sit-in protessat the Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority (GNIDA) and Noida Industrial Development Authority (NIDA) headquarters since 2023 demanding fair compensation according to the provisions of the Land Acquisition Act 2013, return of 10% developed land, lease-back of acquired abadi land, permanent employment for affected families, 40 square metre plots for landless families, and other demands. After a 120-day protest by AIKS at GNIDA office last year, the CEO had accepted a number of these demands. But despite more than four months passing since, the UP government failed to implement any of the accepted demands. This has enraged the farmers who not only restarted their indefinite dharna at the GNIDA office but also gave a call banning entry of any political leader, MLA or MP associated with the BJP from entering the villages in Greater Noida.

The AIKS, through ots secretary, Vijoo Krishnan has demanded that all the arrested and detained be released from police custody immediately and that the UP government hold discussion with the leadership of the farmers.


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Tractor parade by SKM on Republic Day in 500 districts, farmers to take pledge to protect the principles of democracy, federalism, secularism and socialism

On January 26, Republic Day, 500 districts of India will see a tractor parade being held by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), a collective of farmers unions that spearheaded the historic struggle against three farm laws. An official statement made by the SKM on December 28 provided that pursuant to the conclusion of the formal Republic Parade in Delhi, a tractor parade will be held at a district level in all states and Union Territories across the length and breadth of the country.

The statement provided that "SKM shall hold tractor parade on January 26, 2024 at district level in all states and Union territories. It is expected that the parade shall be held in at least 500 districts. SKM appeals to farmers to join the parade in great numbers and after the conclusion of the formal parade at Delhi, the tractor parade will be held.”

The statement also provided that the parade will have the participants fly high the national flag of India and take a pledge to protect the principles of democracy, federalism, secularism and socialism. The statement provides “The farmers participating in the parade will fly-high the national flag along with the flags of the constituent organisations. Farmers will take pledge to protect the principles of democracy, federalism, secularism and socialism enshrined in the Constitution of India. Along with tractors, other vehicles and motorcycles will also join the parade.”

In addition to this, the SKM state units in 20 states have also launched a campaign named ‘Jan Jagran Yatra’ with the aim of making people aware about their ongoing campaign for minimum support price (MSP) as per Swaminathan commission recommendation. The constituent organisations of SKM have been demanding MSP equivalent to 1.5 times of comprehensive cost, including all inputs like fertilisers, herbicides, pesticides, diesel, rent and harvesting.

The SKM statement read that the campaign is “against the Modi government’s corporate raj-based development, dependent on GDP rate, and its narrative of India becoming $3 trillion- economy, which “hides the decline in the per capita income, growing income inequality and denial of minimum support price to farmers and minimum wage to workers.”

The statement provided that between January 10 to 20 of 2024, the campaigners will go door-to-door visits to distribute leaflets that will "expose the pro-corporate economic policies" of the Narendra Modi led union government. As per a report in Newsclick, the other issues to be highlighted are a one-time loan waiver and halt to privatisation of the electricity sector. These leaflets will highlight the policies being implemented by the union government that are detrimental to the interest of farmers, workers and people at large, causing large scale unemployment, uncontrolled price rise, poverty, indebtedness and unbridled rural to urban migration. As per the report, the issue of termination of Minister of State for Home Affairs Ajay Mishra, whose son is an accused in the mowing down of farmers in Lakhimpur Kheri, will also be raised in the same mass campaign.

“The farmer and worker activists will visit households and distribute leaflets and ensure massive participation of the people in the forthcoming joint and coordinated struggle actions against corporate exploitation under the patronage of RSS-BJP rule. State level coordination committees will meet immediately to prepare for the campaign to target to cover at least 40% of the 30.40 crores households”, the statement read.

As per the statement given by Senior SKM functionary P. Krishnaprasad to The Hindu, the aim behind this campaign is to reach out to at least 12 crore people during these ten days on the issues of livelihood to challenge the “communal narrative” of BJP.

The call raised by the SKM leaders to farmers all across India is to make this mass campaign and the tractor parade a grand success to ensure the removal of "the corporate-communal nexus that exploits and divides people through communal and casteist polarisation".

The statement also asserted that the farmers’ struggle will intensify till all their demands are met by the union government.

As per the Newsclick report, Ashok Dhawale, president of All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS), stated that the Morcha (protest) has put onus on both the Union government as well as the Opposition to clear their stand on MSP and other demands.

“We had to launch the campaign because the BJP government has not fulfilled its promise of forming committee with mandate to ensure legal status of MSP. The farmers unions are also asking the parties in the opposition to clear their stands as far as these demands are concerned,” he said, as per the report.

Jagmohan Singh, secretary, Bharatiya Kisan Union-Dakaunda, also informed Newsclick over that the detailed plan of the campaign and the national convention will be made public after the meeting of Punjab-based farmers unions on January 2.

 

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