Delhi Chalo Explained - Why our farmers are protesting now?

Delhi Chalo - Thousands of farmers are moving to Delhi by their tractors, trucks and other vehicles, calling ‘Delhi Chalo’ against the new farm bill. Thousands of farmers from Punjab and Haryana are leading to national capital against the three new agricultural bills passed by central government. Lal Bahadur Shastri’s slogan formed in 1965 ‘Jai Jawan and Jai Kisan’ was followed for these many years but now it has lost the dignity and meaning in 2020 with the new actions of central government.

Must Read before continuing - Farm Bill 2020: What is Farm Bill 2020 and Why Farmers are opposing historic Farm Bill

Is India still a democratic country, where is our fundamental rights? whether we have our basic fundamental rights now, where is right of freedom to speak, move, protest or express our opinion. This is not the first time we are seeing anything like this from the government, all the protest or all the oppositions against the policies of government were trampled. This time our farmers had to face this; they are not only fighting for them they all are fighting for whole country.

Thousands of farmers from multiple states are leading to the national capital against the protest of new farm bill, which is passed by central government without taking any opinion. The new farm bill will completely erase APMC (Agricultural Produce Market Committee) and will give more powers to the cooperates making the farmers difficult to trade and they will lose their Minimum Support Price (MSP).

We all followed, studied and respected ‘Jai Jawan Jai Kisan’, but very sad to say that now the government made the soldiers or Jawan’s to fight against these farmers(kisan). This is very pathetic situation for any country. Country like India whose backbone is agriculture and farming, and our farmers are those who hold our country are now beaten-up by our own soldiers.  

The way our farmers are treated is extremely shameful for all Indians and we all should remember that this is completely against our fundamental rights. Protesting farmers chanted slogans with police trying to march towards Delhi on the Delhi-Haryana border. Thousands of farmers faced allegations of tear gas and baton from the police after returning to the capital against the new agricultural laws. Police dug barricades and ditches on highways to stop them and also used concrete blockades, walls of shipping containers to stop them from entering the capital city.

Delhi Chalo protest so far

The farmers headed to Delhi for the protest against the new agricultural bill, but very sad that the central government don’t want them to enter Delhi and protest. We are still confused the reason behind the fear. Above this central government deployed central force against these farmers and the protest became violent when the central force started attacking them with water cannon and tear gas and the situation became pathetic day by day.

Farmer leaders in Haryana were arrested on November 24 and 25 with the intention of preventing them from going to Delhi. Farmer leaders were detained even after behaving peacefully and being offered bail bonds. Water cannons were used on the farmers near Kurukshetra, though the farmers continued to move towards Delhi. Haryana has decided to completely close its borders with Punjab on November 26 and 27.

First day: Thousands of farmers travelled from Punjab to Haryana on Thursday. At the border points, Haryana police tried to stop them using water cannons and tear gas. But then they got permission. Clashes broke out with police elsewhere on the Delhi-Delhi road through BJP-run Haryana. A large number of protesters camped near Panipat overnight.

Day two: Protesters gather at Tigri and Singh on the Delhi border. Police used tear gas and water cannons to prevent the barricades from breaking, including trucks loaded with sand. In the evening, they went into the city and gave permissions for them to continue their protest on Burari ground. But many seemed reluctant.

Day three: The standoff continues on the Delhi border on Saturday morning. Most of the farmers are going from Punjab and Haryana. The protest is being held under the banner of Samyukta Kisan Morcha.

Thousands of protesting farmers were on their way to Delhi when a farmer was hit by a tractor-trolley truck in Bhiwani, Haryana on Friday, killing one farmer and injuring two others.

 

Why farmers are Protesting?

Farmers believes that the new three laws will end up the MSP and giving direct trade to corporates will only benefit co-operates. Farmers opposed three controversial agricultural laws enacted by the Center on September 27. It is alleged that they did not consult the shareholders before enforcing the law. Their biggest fear is to end the minimum support price (MSP) purchase because of these laws.

Read: Why Farmers are opposing and the cons of new farm bill?

Farmers' unions in Punjab and Haryana say recently enacted laws at the Center will abolish the Minimum Support Price (MSP) system. Over time, large corporations will fulfill their conditions and farmers will receive less money for their crops. With the virtual breakdown of the mandi system, farmers fear that their crops will not fetch a fixed price and the “arthia” - the agents who lend them - will be out of business. The main demand is to repeal three laws that reduce the sales of their crops. As the MSP system continues, ideally farmer unions can also be compromised through amendments to the laws.

According to the farmers the new bill will not profit them, but these new laws will benefit the corporates. The situation became worse when the central government closed their ears and eyes and they stopped them from entering the capital city.

If you think that this is not your issue or nothing to bother you then you are completely wrong, as you know agriculture is the backbone of India, if farmers are affected then you are too, if they stop cultivation then just think what will happens. Days are not too far when you pay 300-400 Rs for per kg of vegetables or rice, Days are not too far when you will you will get only branded vegetables. India is the country with largest number of farmer suicide these will increase if this continues like this.

In short this will affect all of us directly or indirectly. Again, remember that these farmers are not only fighting for them they are fighting for us, our country. They just want MSP for their products, nothing else they want. If our government is not ready to listen and solve their issues then what type of democracy we have.

This is not only the issue of farm bill, this is complete violation of our fundamental rights, according to our fundamental rights we can travel anywhere in India and we can do weapon less protest any where and no one can stop us from this. This is complete violation of our fundamental rights and it is a signal to future.