For most of the world, every place and country is recognized for its different things ranging from its culture, people, language, food, history, landscape to other worth remembering things. But when India was remembered in the past, its Hindi Film Industry that is also called Bollywood used to pop into head. Even Indian secularism was highlighted and at times ethnic diversity was one of the main things to appreciate. Though in recent times, circumstances have changed at world stage regarding Indian image. Hindutva regime actually changed things entirely. Good news about India has ceased from quite some time. After the rise of Modi and RSS backed regime, global presence of India has tarnished a lot. The new hassle is Indian farmer’s protests. The protests began in September when tens of thousands of farmers from different states of India and especially from Indian Punjab left their homes and took to streets to protest against the farm reforms passed by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) headed by Narendra Modi. Actually, farmers are afraid that the legislation will eventually dismantle India’s regulated markets. These steps would stop the government from purchasing wheat and rice at guaranteed prices leaving farmers to negotiate with private buyers.
In fact, the recently enforced farm reforms have left many farmers in troubled waters.
In India, agriculture makes up approximately 15 percent of $2.9 trillion economy and employs about half of world second largest population of 1.3 billion people.
Farmers are trying to call the government to repeal the legislation and retain mandatory government purchases among other demands. Although It can be a stimulus to only add to the disturbing rash of farmers suicides across India. A large number of farmers in particular Sikh farmers from Indian Punjab have joined these daily indefinite sit-in protests at a stretch of the national highway at Singhu border, Tikri border, Kundli border and Ghazipur border. Farmers as protesters are carrying food and other daily commodities ready to prolong the duration of protests and government is deploying hundreds of security personnel to block the roads leading towards New Delhi. Due to increasing protests, railway is suffering owing to blockages of railway tracks with a recent loss of more than$298 million in a month. Furthermore, with more than one month of ongoing protests, rage is rampantly increasing and even protesters are being confronted with water canons, tear-gas and baton charge. Moreover, protesters are not in mood of calling off the protests and calling the BJP government promises regarding the farm reforms just exploitation of poor farmers. More than six rounds of talks have failed between protesters and BJP government.
Many farmers have even burnt their fields in defiance of anti pollution laws. While PM Narendra Modi is trying to overhaul the way many of country’s 146 million farms do business but with no approval from farmers community. In the meantime, protests are spreading beyond New Delhi in the southern states of Kerala and in the northeastern state of Assam. Additionally, sugar farmers in Utter Pradesh have set a protest camp in solidarity with fellow farmers. Times are hard but farmers are determined to protest. Their fertile lands of myriad acres are turning into barren lands due to anti-farmers policies of BJP government.
Meanwhile, farmers fear of lower prices even less than half when small farms will be taken over by renowned corporate giants. Farmers are showing their resentment by burning stubble without being afraid of pollution focused Indian government ordinance prescribing prison, a fine of up to about $135, 000 or both. New Delhi’s air quality is also suffering already and a third wave of corona virus is haunting all too. This stubble burning defiance is contributing to the pollution which is severely choking New Delhi and the rest of northern India. According to satellite data, India recently registered worst farm fires in four years. Protesters are sleeping on hay in tractor-trailers covered with canvas tarps in freezing cold with temperatures of 2*C in protests. More than 40 protesters have been died in month.
The worsening pollution makes it harder for asthma and corona patients to breathe in clean air. Pollution and cold waves worked like splashing petrol on burning building. There is also a devastating economic slump affecting livelihoods after corona lockdowns.
All the major opposition parties including Indian National Congress and Aam Aadmi Party Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal with government in New Delhi are supporting protesters demands of repealing the farm reforms. According to CM Arvind Kejriwal the three agricultural reforms were passed from upper house which is Rajya Sabha without following any voting procedure.
Farmers protests are not the only thing worsening or adding fuel to fire but severe human rights violations in Indian side of Kashmir and Delhi riots are other insults to injury. Even European Union DisinfoLab reports published between December 9 and 11 have exposed the Indian fake news and disinformation network that how India was exploiting local media across world. World leaders, artists and organisations have also voiced concerns for farmers especially Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also included himself in this cause. Demonstrations have been set up in different parts of the world by Sikh communities in solidarity with farmers of India and such incidents are presenting trickier challenges.
Lastly, farmers are vital for bringing India out of its debilitating, coronavirus-driven recession. Agriculture has been a rare bright spot, for the revival of common man’s livelihood after Mr. Modi locked down the country to stop the pandemic earlier this year.
Farmers traditionally play a major role in the annual pollution. Many set fire to large swaths of land to clear fields ahead of the winter wheat sowing season which have been estimated to contribute between 2 and 40 percent of Delhi’s air pollution during the period. It is important to address the actual concerns of farmers in consultations with agricultural scientists and experts to liberate people from severity of future and food scarcity.
