NO FARMERS NO FOOD

Farmer unions and their representatives have demanded that the laws be repealed and have stated that they will not accept a compromise. Farmer leaders have welcomed the Supreme Court of India stay order on the implementation of the farm laws but rejected the committee appointed by the Supreme Court. Farmer leaders have also rejected a government proposal, dated 21 January 2021, of suspending the laws for 18 months. Eleven rounds of talks have taken place between the central government and farmers represented by the farm unions between 14 October 2020 and 22 January 2021; all were inconclusive. On 3 February, farmer leaders warned of escalating the protest to overthrow the government if the farm laws were not repealed. The stay order on the implementation of the farm laws remains in effect,and the Supreme Court appointed committee continues with its tasks related to the farm laws. Six state governments (Kerala, Punjab, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Delhi and West Bengal) have passed resolutions against the farm acts, and three states (Punjab, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan) have tabled counter legislation in their respective state assemblies. None of the counter legislation passed the respective state governors.

The acts, often called the Farm Bills,have been described as “anti-farmer laws” by many farmer unions,and politicians from the opposition also say it would leave farmers at the “mercy of corporations”. The farmers have also demanded the creation of a Minimum Support Price (MSP) bill, to ensure that corporations cannot control the prices. The government, however, maintains that the laws will make it effortless for farmers to sell their produce directly to big buyers, and stated that the protests are based on misinformation.
Soon after the acts were introduced, unions began holding local protests, mostly in Punjab. After two months of protests, farmer unions—mainly from Punjab and Haryana—began a movement named Dilli Chalo, In which tens of thousands of farming union members marched towards the nation’s capital. The Indian government ordered the police and law enforcement of various states to attack the protesters using water cannons, batons, and tear gas to prevent the farmer unions from entering into Haryana first and then Delhi. On 26 November 2020, a nationwide general strike of 250 million people, according to trade unions, took place in support of the farmer unions. On 30 November, an estimated crowd of 200,000 and 300,000 farmers were converging at various border points on the way to Delhi.

On 21 March specific mention was made of Bengaluru, “….you (farmers) have to turn Bengaluru into Delhi. You will have to lay siege to the city from all directions”. Transport unions representing over 14 million truck drivers have come out in support of the farmer unions. On 26 January, tens of thousands of the farmers held a farmer’s parade with a large convoy of tractors and drove into Delhi. The protesters deviated from the pre-sanctioned routes permitted by the Delhi Police. The tractor rally turned into a violent protest at certain points as the protesting farmers drove through the barricades and clashed with the police. Later protesters reached Red Fort and installed farmer union flags and religious flags on the mast on the rampart of the Red Fort. As of 21 March 2021, according to Haryana Police, there are around 40,000 committed protestors sitting at Singhu and Tikri at the Delhi border.

While a section of farmer unions have been protesting, the Indian Government claims some unions have come out in support of the farm laws. By mid December, the Supreme Court of India had received a batch of petitions asking for removal blockades created by the protesters around Delhi. The court also asked the government to put the laws on hold, which they refused. On 4 January 2021 the court registered the first plea filed in favour of the protesting farmers. Farmers have said they will not listen to the courts if told to back off. Their leaders have also said that staying the farm laws is not a solution. The government offered some amendments in laws. On 30 December, the Indian Government agreed to two of the farmers’ demands; excluding farmers from laws curbing stubble burning and dropping amendments to the new Electricity Ordinance.

As of 17 July 2021, the farmers’ demands include:

•Convene a special Parliament session to repeal the farm laws
•Make MSP and state procurement of crops a legal right
•Assurances that conventional procurement system will remain
Implement Swaminathan Panel Report and peg MSP at least 50% more than weighted average cost of production
•Cut diesel prices for agricultural use by 50%
•Repeal of Commission on Air Quality •Management in NCR and the adjoining •Ordinance 2020 and removal of punishment and fine for stubble burning
•Release of farmers arrested for burning paddy stubble in Punjab
•Abolishing the Electricity Ordinance 2020
•Centre should not interfere in state subjects, decentralisation in practice.
•Withdrawal of all cases against and release of farmer leaders.

Farmers have been insistent over repealing the farm laws. Even after the government offered to stay the farm laws for 18 months on 21 January 2021, the farmers refused the stay and pushed for repeal. Other than the farm unions and leaders, people such as Markandey Katju and Thol. Thirumavalavan has also made statements in relation to staying the farm laws.


PROTEST.
In Punjab, small-scale protests had started in August 2020 when the Farm Bills were made public. It was only after the passage of the acts that more farmers and farm unions across India joined the protests against the reforms. On 25 September 2020 farm unions all over India called for a Bharat Bandh to protest against these farm laws. The most widespread protests took place in Punjab, Haryana and Western Uttar Pradesh but demonstrations were also reported in Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Kerala and other states. Railway services have remained suspended in Punjab for more than two months due to the protests, starting from October. Following this, farmers from different states then marched to Delhi to protest against the laws. Farmers also criticized the national media for misrepresenting the protest. From 12 December, farmer unions took over highway toll plazas in Haryana and allowed free movement of vehicles. In certain parts of India, bullock-cart rallies in support of farmer’s protest have also been organized by marginal farmers.

Farm unions
Under the coordination of bodies such as Samyukt Kisan Morcha and All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee, the protesting farm unions include :
•Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ugrahan, •Sidhupur, Rajewal, Chaduni, Dakaunda)
•Kisan Swaraj Sangathan in Indore
•Jai Kisan Andolan
•All India Kisan Sabha
•Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha
•National Alliance for People’s Movements
•Lok Sangharsh Morcha
•All India Kisan Khet Mazdoor Sangathan
•Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee
•Rashtriya Kisan Mazdoor Sangathan
•All India Kisan Mazdoor Sabha
•Krantikari Kisan Union
•ASHA-Kisan Swaraj
•Lok Sangharsh Morcha
•All India Kisan Mahasabha
•Punjab Kisan Union
•Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana
•Sangtin Kisan Mazdoor Sanghatan
•Jamhoori Kisan Sabha
Kisan Sangharsh Samiti
•Terai Kisan Sabha

Transport bodies such as the All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC), representing about 9.5 million truckers and 5 million bus and taxi drivers, have threatened to halt the movement of supplies in the northern states, and if the government fails to address the farmer’s issues, it would be done nationwide. After a meeting with government officials and 30 union representatives, “the farmers have rejected the government’s proposals,” Darshan Pal, president of the Krantikari Kisan Union told the press on 8 December 2020.

Rail Roko

On 24 September 2020, farmers started a “Rail roko” campaign, following which train services to and from Punjab were affected. Farmers extended the campaign into October. On 23 October, some farmer unions decided to call off the campaign, as supplies of fertilizer and other goods in the state were starting to run short.

Dilli Chalo

After failing to get the support of their respective state governments, the farmers decided to pressure the Central Government by marching to Delhi. On 25 November 2020, protesters from the Dilli Chalo campaign were met by police at the borders of the city. The police employed the use of tear gas and water cannons, dug up roads, and used layers of barricades and sand barriers to stop the protesters, leading to at least three farmer casualties. Amidst the clashes, on 27 November, media highlighted the actions of a youth who jumped onto a police water cannon targeting protesting farmers and turned it off. He was later charged with attempted murder.

The march on Delhi was accompanied by a 24-hour strike of 250 million people across India on 26 November 2020 in opposition to both the farm law reform and proposed changes to labour law.

Between 28 November and 3 December, the number of farmers blocking Delhi in the Delhi Chalo was estimated at 150 to 300 thousand.

The Central Government Of India announced they would be discussing the future of the new farm laws on 3 December 2020, despite the protesters’ demands that the talks took place immediately. It was decided that the government would only talk to a select group of farmer unions. The Prime Minister would be absent from this meeting. The KSMC, a leading Kissan jatha, refused to join this meeting for these reasons. While the Center wanted the farmers to move away from Delhi to a protest site in Burari the farmers preferred to stay at the borders and instead put forward a proposal of protesting at Jantar Mantar in central Delhi.

The farmers’ unions announced that on 4 December they would burn effigies of PM Modi and leaders of corporations. Prominent personalities began announcing their plans to return their awards and medals received from the Central Government. On 7 December, farmers announced their plan to organize a Bharat Bandh (national strike) on 8 December. After talks with the central government failed to find a solution on 5 December, farmers confirmed their plans for a national strike on 8 December. Further talks were planned for 9 December.

On 9 December 2020, the farmers’ unions rejected the government’s proposals for changes in-laws, even as the Centre in a written proposal assured the minimum support price for crops. The farmers also said they will block the Delhi-Jaipur highway on 12 December and nationwide dharnas will be called on 14 December 2020. On 13 December, Rewari police barricaded Rajasthan-Haryana border to stop farmers from marching to Delhi, and the farmers responded by sitting on the road and blocking the Delhi-Jaipur highway in protest.

On 26 January 2021, Republic Day, hundreds of thousands protested in Delhi, where tractor rallies and a storming of the historic Red Fort took place. One person died in the protest as his tractor overturned on him. Later, the postmortem also confirmed that he died due to haemorrhage due to head injuries.

Blocking of border and roads
A number of borders, including the Kundli Border, Dhansa border, Jharoda Kalan border, Tikri border, Singhu border, Kalindi Kunj border, Chilla border, Bahadurgarh border and Faridabad border, were blocked by protesters during the protests. On 29 November, the protesters announced that they would block five further points of entry into Delhi, namely Ghaziabad-Hapur, Rohtak, Sonipat, Jaipur and Mathura.
Republic Day Kisan Parade

On 26 January, tens of thousands of the farmers protesting agricultural reforms held a parade with a large convoy of tractors and drove into Delhi. The farmers drove in long lines of tractors, riding horses or marching on foot.The parade started from Singhu Border, Tikri Border and Ghazipur in Delhi on the routes approved by the Police. The farmers were barred from entering the central part of the city where the official Republic Day parade was taking place. At the Singhu Border starting point, according to the police estimates, around 7000 tractors had gathered. Reuters reported citing farmers’ unions that close to 200,000 tractors had participated.

At around 8 am, a few hours early from the permitted time, farmers started to gather separately at Ghazipur, Singhu, and Tikri borders. The tractor rally commenced from the Singhu border and was designated to follow a decided route. However, as the rally progressed, it deviated and marched towards other routes. The protestors marched towards ITO metro station and the city centre, and broke through the barricades. The Delhi Police used tear gas and Baton charged the protesting farmers leading to clashes. Several metro stations were closed and mobile internet was suspended by Police.
The protestors entered the Red Fort of Delhi, and one of the farmers was seen climbing a flagpole in front of the fort and hoisting the religious flag Nishan Sahib on the flagpole. The clash between police and farmers also caused damage to facilities inside the fort, 394 policemen and thousands of farmers were reported injured, 30 police vehicles were damaged and internet services were suspended for hours in several parts of Delhi and the NCR region. The police took hours vacating the fort premises after continuous announcements and use of force.
After the 26 January tractor march, the police constructed cement barricades, dug trenches and cemented nails at all three borders where farmers continue to protest. The barricading and police have restricted movement of locals, farmers, as well as journalists to the protest sites. At the Ghazipur border, farmer leaders alleged that water and electricity supply was cut off.
As of 28 January, the Delhi Police stated that it has filed various criminal cases on the incidents of violence and arrested several people. More than 300 police personnel were injured in the violence by protesters who used batons and sharp weapons. The violence and hoisting of a religious flag on the ramparts of the Red Fort made the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Bhanu) and All India Kisan Sangharsh Co-ordination Committee decide to quit the farmers’ protest. Sharad Pawar, the leader of the Nationalist Congress Party, and Captain Amarinder Singh, the Chief Minister of Punjab, condemned the violence.
ORGANISATION:
Langar
Scores of langars and makeshift kitchens have been deployed by farmer’s organization’s and NGOs to meet the food needs of the tens of thousands of farmers in the farmers-camps that have sprung up on the borders of Delhi after the Delhi Police barred the farmers from entering the city on 26 November 2020. These langars work round the clock and provide free food without distinction of caste, class, or religion. The hot meals provided by the langars include lentils, seasonal vegetables, roti, buttermilk, and tea. Delhi-based media outlets have made significant commentary on some aspects of the langars, such as the use of mechanical roti makers which can cook 1000 roti an hour, or when farmers were seen eating pizzas made by the langar at the Singhu border, which drew mockery of the farmer’s movement. The media also made adverse comments on farmer’s consumption of dried fruits and nuts such as cashews and raisins at an “almond langar” provided by beneficent NRIs. Organization’s engaged in setting up and running langars include Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Committee at Singhu border; Baba Kashmir Singh ji Bhuri Wale sect, Tikri border; Khalsa Aid; Dera Baba Jagtar Singh from Tarn Taran, Delhi based Jamindara Student Organisation; Gurdwara Head Darbar Kot Puran, Ropar, Muslim Federation of Punjab, and several others, including NRI-NGOs which have pitched in with aid in kind. Along with the langars, a makeshift school has been set up at the camp, mostly for children who are unable to attend school due to financial issues and the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

Accommodation and supplies
In addition to food, and tea, the farmers in the camps, are being supported by domestic and international NGOs, including UK based NGO Khalsa Aid, with provisions of tents, solar-powered mobile charging points, laundry, library, medical stalls, dental camp, which did tooth retraction, cleaning, filling, and scaling treatments, foot massage chairs for elderly protesters.
THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
The Supreme Court of India has received numerous petitions seeking direction to remove protesting farmers from blocking access routes to the capital. The Supreme Court has also conveyed to the central government that it intends to set up a body for taking forward the negotiations. On 17 December, the Supreme Court acknowledged the right to peaceful protest but added, “you (farmers) have a purpose also and that purpose is served only if you talk, discuss and reach a conclusion”. The central government opposed the court’s recommendation of putting on hold the implementation of the farm laws. Agitating farmer unions have decided to consult Prashant Bhushan, Dushyant Dave, HS Phoolka and Colin Gonsalves as far as the Supreme Court proceedings go.

A plea submitted by several students of Panjab University on 2 December 2020 was registered by the Supreme Court as a public petition on 4 January 2021. The plea was in the form of a letter which called out police excesses, illegal detentions of protesters, “misrepresentation, polarization and sensationalization” by media channels and approached the matter on humanitarian grounds. A student who drafted the petition informed The Wire that “over the course of over 100 days of the farmers’ protest, this is the first petition filed in favour of the protest”.

Farmers have said they will not listen to the courts if told to back off or even if the laws are stayed. Farmer union leaders have also raised the issue of the government “dodging dialogue” since the “SC has said earlier that it will not intervene”. Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala made a statement in this regard, “Why does the government want the SC to solve all contentious issues, from the CAA and the National Register of Citizens to farm laws?”

On 11 January 2021 the Chief Justice of India said during hearings, “We are not experts on agriculture and economics. Tell us whether you (the government) will put these laws on hold or else we will do it. What’s the prestige issue here? We don’t know if you are part of the solution or part of the problem. We have an apprehension that someday maybe, there might be a breach of peace. Each one of us will be responsible if anything goes wrong. If the vast majority says that laws are good, let them say it to (a) committee.”The Court also stated to the government that they were “…extremely disappointed at the way the government is handling all this (farmers protests). We don’t know what consultative process you followed before the laws. Many states are up in rebellion.The Court also rejected a claim by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta that the “vast majority” of farmers supported the laws, stating that they had not received any submissions from any person that the laws were beneficial.

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