Shiban Khaibri
Two incidents, both unfortunate and totally avoidable – – “Kissan” agitation Part 2 and alleged sexual exploitation and physical violation of young Bangla Mahilas in Sandeshkhali Kolkota ,may ,perhaps, not rattle the conscience of the entire nation but definitely larger sections of the society who think about and keep the nation first and foremost of all other important things, are deeply anguished and indignantly saddened. That is true in case of religion even, which is dear to everyone practicing any belief or faith in the country because when the country is safe, is economically and militarily strong, united, fast developing and marching ahead in right direction, can faiths and religions practiced sustain, thrive and be safe. This point is most important to be underlined in letter and in spirit. A developing economy and the one with unbridled high population growth, bring with it some small and short term pulls and pressures calling for some minor sacrifices and adjustments to be benefitted in the long run. All sections of the population have high expectations and a deep yearning for a better living and can genuinely but reasonably demand from the government and aspire for fulfilment of the same. However, any unjust , unreasonable, illogical and myopically unaccommodating demand put forth coupled with employing arm-twisting and coercive measures , blackmailing and threatening etc can be termed in plain words to be unacceptable and hence non -negotiable . The move becomes increasingly suspect and conspicuous of lack of logic and propriety hence deserving to be declined to be accepted. In other words, (so called) Kissan agitation – 2.0 in present form is totally illogical, unreasonable, and untenable.
Most of the Indian people , unfortunately, have misunderstood the concept of democracy and the duties of a citizen towards the nation. Hate, prejudice, regionalism, inelastic language orthodoxy, turning blind eye to basics of elementary economics and governance, pooh – poohing moves to unearth and bringing into limelight cases of rampant corruption and scams, very unfortunately have been gaining ascendancy . Even looking at agencies with suspicion , tarnishing their image, calling them as tools of the government , even physically attacking them to intimidate to not proceed with even enquiring into and knowing the details of a particular case of scam are causing alarm. Demonstrations are held and arranged against ED, ITD, ACB etc and attempts to undermining their professional and constitutional duties and obligations , etc seem to be on the rise in this country.
Just assess , appraise, analyse and weigh in perspective the rationale of the so called Kissan agitation. This agitation has deliberately and under a proper plan been launched when General Elections are just round the corner. Its timing, its demands and their nature , the likely unbearable burden on the national economy, the mode and manner of agitation and allied matters lead one to believe that under the pretext of ” justice for Kissan” , it is a sustained move in disguise by anti Modi brigade and toolkits to cast long shadows of distrust and confusion among the vast farming community to influence their voting. One of the “leaders” of this agitation is caught on tape saying that Modi’s popularity graph has immensely gone high after construction of Shree Ram Mandir and that graph has to be brought down because time is very limited”. One of the well wishers of this agitation has chosen to knock at the doors of the United Nations for redressing the “grievances” of a few thousand farmers who are on roads with a huge ”lashkar” of brand new tractors transformed and modified as if a siege was going to be laid of an enemy country. So a Nehru formula for Kashmir (1947-48) is going to be replicated . It is another thing as to what was the UNO going to do but one thing is certain that this country was going to be defamed. If the ”aggrieved” persons from trade and industry, commerce, manufacturing, unemployed millions, transport and tourism, mills, factories and other areas resort to the modus operandi of the present “kissan ” agitation including rushing to the UNO for redressing of their demands , imagine what will happen to this country?
Regarding MSP, if made a legal guarantee was not only going to heavily impact the national exchequer but would adversely affect the farmers too. Why no state government run by non- BJP government including in Punjab has made it a legal guarantee? Before elections such political leadership was making big promises about it ? Even Rahul Gandhi has at once and in one breath ”guaranteed” MSP if “INDI alliance came to power”. How can politicians do it agreed there was Modi factor disturbing them day in and day out. The three farm laws had provisions enough in them to change the face of Indian agriculture but cheap politics and pressure tactics from vested interests impelled the government to withdraw those. Farmers would really have seen the difference , enjoyed farming and always remained in commanding position . Farmers are agreeably the backbone of our economy and whatever possible must sincerely be done for them. However, they should also remember that other sectors of the economy are equally vital and important and those sectors cannot be allowed to starve and be neglected. Indian tax payer even pensioners in old age are paying income tax with which farmers are enjoying subsidies and freebies . Agitations of such a menacingly novel form since 2020 on Farm Laws are a direct attack on those very people who fund their subsidies and freebies. We should be more concerned about marginal farmers with small holdings and hailing from backward and poor areas . Cash assistance , the first of its kind, of Rs.6000 per annum to farmers cannot be said to be adequate but also not insignificant , the scheme was started by this government only.
Just conduct a survey of magnificent houses built and other basic facilities put therein by most of the agitating farmers of those areas, who are on and near the borders of Delhi . They have nice vehicles, tractors fitted with music system, ACs etc, and are enjoying free electricity, free water, subsidies on fertilizers, subsidies on LPG, seeds and other inputs, no income tax, no sales tax etc . Such well off farmers too are demanding waiver of Bank loans, monthly pension of Rs.10000 immediately on attaining age of 60 years , 200 days of MGNREGA at Rs.750 per day , MSP on all agricultural products notwithstanding . On MGNREGA alone , it means an yearly additional income of Rs.2.74 lac per family while thousands of our educated unemployed would thank their stars to get a job with at least as much income only. Add cost of loan waiving, guaranteed MSP and host of other demands, if fulfilled, 85 percent of the country’s budget is roughly calculated to be diverted to Kissans alone. What will be left out for catering to other vital sectors of the economy?
Our farmers cannot be denied the right to protest, to peacefully agitate, cannot be denied to put up genuine demands , cannot be asked not to press for more procurement prices on yearly basis but what for swarm of transformed and fortified tractors with trolleys in thousands in number , even JCBs are there in such protests ? What for are swords, lathis, bows and other similar things carried in this agitation ? Why are rioters masking as protestors in the agitation. Why should hooliganism be there in the name of protests? Why should havoc be played with innocent daily commuters, school college going students, shopkeepers, poor rehri walas, vendors , private and state bus operators, railway and road passengers ? Kissan leaders must do a soul searching and ask their conscience whether they were doing the right thing. They must also assess and foresee any chances of a backlash or a strong resistance from the suffering public . They must remember that they carry no public sympathy except from disgruntled, rejected and frustrated politicians including anarchists.
In West Bengal, we have been watching with all pain and anguish TMC rule not any better than under the Left government regimes over three decades . Perhaps , that was not this worse. This writer , within due right had written words of accolades and all glorification through these columns in 2011 in respect of Mamta Baneerji single handed(ly ) knocking down the citadel of the Left Front Government when she won the first Assembly elections in Bengal . Citing proudly the simplicity of Ms. Bannerji – donning a simple cotton Saree and an ordinary simple pair of slippers or flip-flops – it was expected that honesty and scams free governance, healthy democracy, implementation of strict law and order, truer secularism, no appeasement, deportation of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants, repairing and restoring of rich Bengali culture and traditions and economic progress would get new strength and innovative direction in West Bengal . Expectations of reining in criminals, mafia, bullies and goons by TMC government were increasingly high. However, all these years, such expectations have very fast got dashed to ground. Not going deep into numerous other instances where either the TMC government was a silent spectator , a mute entity , if not a collaborator or was charged of being in connivance with such elements, shocking and stunning incidents in Sandeshkhali amply point out to either deliberate lackadaisical approach of the Mamta government or its sheer helplessness in even taking any action against the goons and criminals who ravaged for months the dignity of innocent young Bangla Mahilas.
That such incidents can take place where a woman happens to be the Chief Minister is unacceptable .NCSC Chairperson Arun Haldar has made scathing charges against the government ,”Victims were scared even to speak up” . Some TMC goons had been enjoying a field day for months in allegedly picking up women for physical exploitation. While on the one hand, the ordeal of victim women is gut wrenching, on the other hand shockingly such victims are labelled as “BJP agents” as if the BJP was some alien force fanning its ”agents” in West Bengal. Why should even the state Governor not be allowed to visit the affected areas? Why are secularists and champions for women safety silent? Why no award is returned ? Why those politicians who cried loud for Manipur for atrocities on some women , Hathrass etc are totally silent on Sandeshkhali? Why is there no clarion call for justice for the victims ?
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