In the News
One Year of Farmers’ Emcampments in India
An Ocean of Humanity Speaks Its Mind
Women farmers rally in Tikri at the Delhi border to mark one year of the farmers’ encampments around Delhi, November 26, 2021.
An ocean of humanity, farmers and their families came to the Morchas on November 26 with their tractors and trolleys to mark one year of their encampments, the Morchas, which have become their universities, mass democracy and determination to carry on their struggle and strengthen their unity. Men, women, children, workers, teachers, students, artists, singers, Nihangs, Kabbadi players, poets, all joined and expressed their resolve to continue their struggle for a life of justice and dignity.
Mass rallies on the borders of Delhi, November 26, 2021.
A young poet, descendant of Bhai Mardana, companion of Guru Nanak all his life, sang passionately about the obstructions and barricades that the Modi government had put up but were smashed by the farmers. Moving tribute was paid to the more than 700 farmers who died at the Morchas, Lakhimpur Kheri and other places in this fight. They also talked about the necessary discipline and organization that they developed during the last one year to push their struggle forward. A young woman farmer said that Modi used to boast about his 56 inch chest. Farmers have reduced it to 26 inches, she said. Many women, men, youth and also children recalled the history of struggles over the centuries against Delhi.
Farmers from around India on their way to Delhi, November 25, 2021, to join in the celebrations and affirm their demands.
Non Resident Indians (NRIs) across the globe and their friends are celebrating one year of struggle and success of farmers and their allies. All across the world NRIs have raised the flags of farmers outside their homes, in the windows and capitols. Thousands of people in every country have joined farmers in India.
International salute to the Indian farmers from (top to bottom): Rural landless workers in Brazil, France and Italy.
On November 24, prime minister Modi’s cabinet approved the decision to repeal the three laws and announced that a bill will be brought in the parliament session which starts on November 29. However, it did not say anything about the Minimum Support Price (MSP), a key demand of the farmers who are demanding a law which provides MSP with a guarantee.
Farmers urgently need the MSP instituted — some have had to dump their crops due to the low prices paid for their produce.
A massive Mahapanchayat (mass meeting) was organized by farmers in Lucknow on November 22. Farmers from all across India came to celebrate their success but also said that their struggle will continue until all their demands are met. Speaker after speaker pointed out that this prime minister is in the habit of making announcements and not following up with actions. Some speakers said that this prime minister has earned the nickname Ghoshna Mantri (announcement minister). Until our demands are met, signed and sealed we will continue our struggle, the farmers said. Many other speakers pointed out the hypocrisy of Modi’s address to the nation in which he announced the repeal of the three anti-farmer laws.
Farmers’ mahapanchayat, Lucknow, November 22, 2021
The farmers’ organization Samyukt Kisan Morcha wrote an open letter on 21 November 2021 to Narendra Modi, Prime minister, of India. In this letter they reiterated their demands :
“Prime Minister, you are well aware that repeal of the three black laws is not the only demand of this movement. From the very beginning of the talks with the government, the Samyukt Kisan Morcha had raised three additional demands:
1. Minimum Support Price based on the comprehensive cost of production (C2+50%) should be made a legal entitlement of all farmers for all agricultural produce, so that every farmer of the country can be guaranteed at least the MSP announced by the government for their entire crop. (The Committee formed under your Chairpersonship had made this recommendation to the then Prime Minister in 2011 and your government had also announced about this in the Parliament).
2. Withdraw the draft “Electricity Amendments Bill, 2020/2021” proposed by the government (During the talks, the government had promised that it would be withdrawn, but then, in a breach of promise, it was included in the Parliament’s agenda).
3. Remove the penal provisions on farmers in the “Commission for Air Quality Management in the National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas Act 2021” (This year, the government removed some anti-farmer provisions but again through section 15, possibility for penal action against farmers has been brought back).
The farmers have been disappointed due to lack of concrete announcement on these important demands in your address. The farmers had hoped that through this historic movement, not only would the three laws be averted, but they would also get a legal guarantee of remunerative MSP for their hard work.
Prime Minister, during this historic movement in the last one year, some other issues have also arisen which need to be resolved immediately:
4. Thousands of farmers have been implicated in hundreds of cases during this movement (June 2020 till date) in Delhi, Haryana, Chandigarh, Uttar Pradesh and several other states. These cases should be withdrawn immediately.
5. Ajay Mishra Teni, the mastermind of Lakhimpur Kheri murder case and accused of section 120B, is still roaming freely and remains a Minister in your cabinet. He is also sharing the stage with you and other senior ministers. He should be sacked and arrested.
6. During this movement, so far about 700 farmers have given their lives to the cause, as their supreme sacrifice. There should be compensation and rehabilitation support for their families. To build a martyrs’ memorial in the memory of the martyr farmers, land should be given at Singhu Border.
Prime Minister, you have appealed to the farmers that now we should go back home. We want to assure you that we are not fond of sitting on the streets. We too desire that after resolving these other issues as soon as possible, we return to our homes, families and farming. If you want the same, then the government should immediately resume talks with the Samyukt Kisan Morcha on the above six issues. Till then, the Samyukt Kisan Morcha will continue this movement.”
Many farmers compared this letter to Modi to the letter written by Guru Gobind Singh to Aurangzeb called Zafarnama, an epistle of victory in which he described treachery and oppression of Aurangzeb and his resolve to fight against it.
In London, England, the case of Vijay Mallya was heard on November 19. Justice Emma Arbaughnott stated in clear terms that, “Indian banks had grossly violated their own rules and regulations in lending to Mallya’s airline.” Judge Emma Arbhannot of the Westminster Magistrate Court of London has openly exposed the malpractices and corruption committed by Indian banks in giving loans to Vijay Mallya. “Does any bank officer have the right to reject the order given by the Prime Minister and Finance Minister of the country by writing.” The judge asked why the Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Finance Minister P. Chidambaram were not responsible for that robbery more than Vijay Mallya who had robbed thousands of crores of banks in India.
(Photos and graphics: Tractor2twitr, @MST_Oficial, Uniterre, M. Correggia,