By M L Satyan

Bengaluru: The farmers’ protest in Delhi border areas has crossed 49 days on January 13. Shockingly, more than 65 farmers seem to have died (natural death and suicides) in the protest venues. In spite of nine formal talks (including the one with Amit Shah) the main demands of the farmers – “repeal the three farm laws and introduce a law for MSP” – have not been met till date.

The ruling government’s stand is very clear. “We will not repeal the three farm laws” say the BJP leaders in one voice. The open secret is that the ruling government has made promises to the two corporate friends Adani and Ambani. The government wants to extend its support only to these corporates and no one else.

The BJP-ruled central and state governments never imagined the length, width and the strength of the farmers’ protest. It was too late by then. So, they tried their ‘pacifying tactics’ under the pretext of ‘talks.’ Their efforts were all in vain.

Finally, the government wanted to use the judiciary to tame the angry lion. Every sensible citizen, including the farmers, know that the ‘stay’ on the three farm laws is just an ‘eye-wash.’ If the SC was serious about the welfare of the farmers, it should have advised the ruling government to discuss it again in the Parliament and then pass or repeal.

Surprisingly, the Supreme Court while staying the implementation of the farm laws has formed a four-member committee (as reported by Bar and Bench). Let us see who they are.

Bhupinder Singh Mann: He is the National President of the Bharatiya Kisan Union. He was also a former Rajya Sabha MP from Punjab. He has been backing the farm laws while demanding certain amendments in them. On September 1, 2020, he wrote to Prime Minister Modi saying he was “Thrilled and Happy” when he first heard of the new farm bills. (as reported by The Print).

Dr. Pramod Kumar Joshi: He is an “Agricultural Economist.” He has written several blogs in favor of the Finance Ministry’s “Farmer Friendly” budgets since 2014. He has been trumpeting about how Prime Minister Modi will be doubling the income of farmers by 2020.

Ashok Gulati: He is an “Agricultural Economist.” On October 1, 2020 Gulati wroe in the Indian Express how the new farm laws are a step in the right direction. On May 18, 2020 he wrote how the proposed reforms in farm laws are addressing a longstanding need of the farmers. On May 16, 2020, Indo-Asian News Service (IANS) had reported that he was being contemplated by Prime Minister Modi as a pick for the Union Agriculture Ministry.

Anil Ghanawat: He is the president of Shetkari Sanghatana, a farmers’ organisation in Maharashtra. He had led the agitation in favor of GM crops. On September 30, 2020, he led a show of support for the farm laws. On December 8, 2020, he tried to form a pro-farm laws lobby in Maharashtra. On December 21, 2020, he had declared that the government should not withdraw the farm laws.

All these committee members are staunch supporters of the farm laws. With these four people as the “only members of the committee” formed to scrutinize and mediate between the farmers and the central government by the Supreme Court, we can easily sense what exactly is in the minds of the apex court while forming this committee. Fairness and Justice is not arrived at when a judgement is made. It is arrived at when the jury is constituted. That’s when the fate of the judgment is already sealed.

Fortunately, the farmers are awake and alert that they do not fall for these tricks by the central government and SC. Farmers have vehemently said that they will not accept this committee formed by the SC. With firm minds they have said that the protest will continue till their main demands are met.

The farmers’ protest has stirred the people not only in India but also in abroad. The mindset of the general public is that the farmers are protesting only for themselves. The farm laws are connected only to the farmers and the common public will not be affected. This is the saddest part of the story.

The three farm laws under dispute will affect every citizen of this country. When the food-producers are affected, naturally the consumers are also affected. We all need to understand the serious negative impact of the farm laws on all citizens, irrespective of their social, economic, political and religious background.

A few days ago, actress Swara Bhaskar visited one of the protest locations and attended the farmers’ meeting. She was listening to the speeches delivered on the stage. A woman seated next to her asked Swara, “Why have you come here?” Swara replied, “I have come to see.” The woman asked her again, “Have you lived in any village, seen any agricultural field and have any relationship with farming?”. Swara said, “No.” The woman asked her, “Are you related to the Roti?” Swara said, “Yes”. The woman said, “Beti, the Roti is the one that connects you to the farming and farmers.”

Swara shared this experience on the same stage in her speech. She said that she was deeply touched by the statement made by the woman seated next to her. She further said, “Whoever we are and wherever we live, it is the food that connects us to the farmers. So, I extend my sincere support to all the farmers.”

It is time for us to express our solidarity with the farmers. Let us apply the 3-H formula here. We need to think (Head) with the farmers, feel (Heart) with the farmers and do (Hands) with the farmers.

Let us stop thinking that we are safe when our food-providers are unsafe and facing a huge crisis. Let us extend our support to them. So,

I strongly oppose the farm laws.
You also strongly oppose the farm laws.
We shall all oppose the farm laws.