It may be shocking news for many that over hundred agitating farmers have recently been booked under sedition by Haryana police for allegedly attacking and damaging official vehicle of Deputy Speaker Ranbir Gangwa during a protest against members of the state’s ruling BJP-JJP alliance and the controversial farm laws. The incident took place in Haryana’s Sirsa district on July 11, and the FIR was filed on the same day. Had the police booked them only on the offence committed, there would not have been any question mark on their impartiality and conduct. But sedition charge? Not acceptable, even though other charges may prima facie stand for the moment, and may be decided by the competent court. This is the process of law, even if the statement issued by the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) has slammed the charges, calling them “false, frivolous, and cooked up” vowing to contest them in court. The sedition charge clamped on agitating farmers shows the attitude of the government to crush the agitation by hook or by crook. More surprising is that the FIR was filed only hours after Supreme Court of India had described the sedition law “colonial” and pointed finger on its misuse in the country.

Politically speaking, anyone agitating against any decision of the Union Government led by the BJP and its Prime Minister Narendra Modi, are naturally disliked by the BJP leaders anywhere in general and the BJP-led state governments in particular. This human nature is understandable, but it cannot be said fair if anyone opposing the government decision is subjected to prosecution by state, or doing all sorts of things that leads to provocation of the agitators facilitating their prosecution. There is no denying the fact that farmers have been at receiving end during their course of agitation since November 26. Agitating farmers were even equated with terrorists or receiving funds from them. It should not have been done, because the allegations were false and government is yet to come with evidence of funding from terrorists and appropriate action. After the failure of 11th round of talks on the eve of Republic Day 2021 celebration, Union government has been not showing any genuine willingness for talks with farmers and following the strategy of ‘ testing the farmers’ patience’. Union government is clearly bent upon implementing the three controversial farm laws, though at one point of time they have offered to defer their implementation for 18 months. Had their intention been genuine, they could have deferred it unilaterally for the offered months, and the stalemate could have been averted for that much period of time.

Now Delhi government has come into the picture. Delhi cabinet has rejected the city police’s proposal to set up a panel of lawyers for fighting the cases related to the farmers’ protest against the central farm laws. On the other hand Lieutenant Governor has rejected the panel of lawyers of the Delhi governments. Delhi’s politically elected government of AAP has also accused the BJP-ruled Centre of putting pressure on it to replace prosecutors appearing in the cases related to anti-farm law stir. All these indicate a possibility of further crushing the agitating farmers on whom about 40 cases were registered on the Republic Day violence. There are also many other cases. One of the options for the Union government may be to propose withdrawal of all sedition cases against agitating farmers as a goodwill gesture to renew talks with them.

The farmers are also not relenting. They are insisting upon repeal of the three controversial farm laws. They have been protesting not only with sit-in protest in Delhi, but also protest demonstration in states, district headquarters, and in front of the governors. During the state’s legislative elections, they asked the farmers not to vote for BJP. They even made alliance with central trade unions and other employees unions for countrywide agitations, such as Bharat Band. However, nothing worked. Now they have decided to take their protest to the Parliament. They have also planned to take their protest in poll bound states such as in Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh which are going to poll next year and are presently ruled by the BJP. They have also decided to launch “Gaddi Chhodo” (Quit the seat of power) agitation against Modi and the BJP.

After the arrest of five farmers after booking them on sedition charges, the farm unions have been organizing panchayats and mahapanchat in Haryana and have demanded immediate withdrawal of the charges. To express resentment against the FIR, the farmers came out on streets and burnt effigies of BJP-JJP leaders in not only the urban areas of Haryana, but also in villages. Agitation has already escalated, not only in Haryana, but also in the states like Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, and Delhi.

In Delhi, Bharatiya Kisan Union (BHU) leader Rakesh Tikait has announced that they are taking their protest to the Parliament once the monsoon session starts on July 19. Farmers will go by bus, and we will pay the fair, he said. We’ll sit outside the Parliament while proceedings will continue in the House. The SKM, the umbrella body of farmers unions, have said that farmers and leaders from Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, and Karnataka, who have been protesting at Delhi borders will be taking part in “methodical and peaceful protest” outside the Parliament. He has assured that the protest will be peaceful, but who knows what will actually happen on that day. There can be many players not interested in peace and may play spoilsport.

Farmers have issued ‘Voters’ Whip’ to opposition MPs, and asked them to be present in the House and raise their issues inside. There in Punjab, Chief Minister Capt. Amarinder Singh has urged the PM to resume talks with farmers and has cited even cross boarder threat as particular concern that has been impacting state’s social fabric and impacting economic activities as well. He has even proposed “an all-party delegation from Punjab for discussion to find out a durable and amicable solution.

In Uttar Pradesh, farmers have decided to launch “Modi Gaddi Chhodo” agitation on August 9, to commemotate the Quit India Day observed during British Raj in 1942. It has support of 30 farmers’ organizations and 10 others.

Hardening of the stance on both sides – the Union government and agitating farmers, along with clear sign of escalation of agitation and crushing attitude of the government machinery, is ominous. The nation cannot afford it. (IPA Service)