100 Days of Farmer Protest:
The ongoing farmer’s protest does not only has stirred the nation but also has gained support from overseas countries. The farmers from different regions of the country such as Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan Gujarat, Western Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Odisha and others have joined hands in solidarity to stand against the three law instigated by the Central Government for farmer’s welfare. However, the farmers of India demand these black laws to be repealed and taken back, without any compromise.
The farm laws were passed in the Parliament of India in September 2020. And the farmers raged a protest against these laws for the first time on 9th August 2020. The farmers have been protesting for a long time and it is the time when the farmers’ protest in Delhi is going to complete its “100 Days of Famers’ Protest”.
While there has been much debate all across the nation about these three farm laws, so let’s have a look at what actually these three farm laws are.
The three farm laws:
- Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act: This act enlarges the scope of trade areas of farmers produce from selected areas to “any place of production, collection, and aggregation.” Also, allows electronic trading and e-commerce of scheduled farmers’ produce. It restricts state governments from levying any market fee, cess or levy on farmers, traders, and electronic trading platforms for a trade of farmers’ produce conducted in an ‘outside trade area’.
- Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act: This act creates a structure for contract farming through an agreement between a farmer and a buyer before the production or nurturing of any farm produces. It also provides for a three-level dispute settlement mechanism which is- the conciliation board, Sub Divisional Magistrate, and Appellate Authority.
- Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act: This act allows the centre to regulate some food items in the course of extraordinary situations like war or famine. Provided that the imposition of any stock limit on agricultural produce be based on price rise.
However, as of now, there have been much talks about the farmers protesting, so let’s know more about what the farmers are actually demanding from the government through the medium of this protest.
- Assemble a special Parliament session to repeal the farm laws.
- Make MSP and state attainment of crops a legal right.
- Guarantee of the conventional procurement system will sustain.
- Put into practice the Swaminathan Panel Report and set MSP at least 50% more than the weighted average cost of production.
- Reduce diesel prices for agricultural use by 50%
- Revoke the Commission on Air Quality Management in NCR and the adjoining Ordinance 2020 and undo of punishment and fine for stubble burning.
- Set free the farmers arrested for burning paddy stubble in Punjab.
- Abolishment of the Electricity Ordinance 2020.
- The Central Government should not interfere in the state subjects, decentralization which is in practice.
- To take back all the cases against farmers and release of farmer leaders.
The nationwide farmer’s protest has been a series of events lined up, and since the farmers’ protest is on the verge of completing its “100 Days of Farmer’s Protest in Delhi”, we are further discussing the list of events that took place in the recent past and made this protest such a big revolution.
List of events witnessed at the farmers' protest:
Just after the Farm Bills were made public, the farmers in Punjab starting protesting against them in small traces. But the actual protest started when the Farm act was passed, and that’s when more farmers joined into the protest. On 25th September 2020 farmers union called for the Bharat Bandh across India for the first time.
- On 24th September, the Rail Roko campaign was also observed which extended until 23rd October 2020. During the campaign, the train services to and from Punjab were ceased.
- Since the first Bharat Bandh against these farm laws, the farmers were protesting continuously against these farm laws in Punjab and other neighbouring regions. And finally, on 25th November 2020 farmers, in order to pressurise the Central Government of India decided to march towards Delhi under the Dilli Chalo campaign. The movement witnessed around 250 million people marching towards Delhi, where the police stopped them at the borders of the cities. The march altogether witnessed a 24hour strike on 26th November.
- On 28th November 2020, farmers reached the Singhu Border of Delhi and Haryana, where the farmers were not allowed to enter Delhi. Since then, until 3rd December farmers joined in the protest in huge numbers around 200,000 and 3,00,000 and gathered at the borders of Delhi and blocked highways with huge tractors and trollies.
- To escalate the protest and raise their voices, the farmers on 4th December decided to observe an India-wide strike on 8th December 2020. After that, in a meeting with the centre, the farmers were offered some amendments in the Farm act, but farmers had a demand to revoke the laws.
- As per 12th December, Farmers decided to take over the highway toll plazas and granted free movement of the vehicles.
- During mid-December, the Supreme Court got a bunch of petitions requesting for removal of blockades due to the protests. Following this, the court directed the centre to put the laws on hold for 18 months, which they refused.
- On 4th January 2021, the first plea was filed in the favour of farmers by the Supreme Court of India. The farmers, to which stated that holding the laws is not a solution.
- The Government of India on 30th December agreed to the two of the farmers’ demand (not including those from the farm laws) of curbing stubble burning and cutting the amendments to the new Electricity Ordinance.
- On 26th January, a parade was conducted by the farmers union where thousands of farmers protesting against the agricultural reforms marched towards Delhi with their tractors and trollies. Since there were huge barricading by the Delhi Police the protestors deviated from their pre-decided routes permitted by Delhi Police and the rally turned into a violent protest where protestors had to clash with the police.
Later that day, a few small groups of protestors reached the Red Fort and went in to install the flags of Farmers’ Union and religious flags.
Since the 26th January incident, many journalists along with the protesters have been arrested and are charged with different allegations even to the attempt of murder, including a freelance journalist Mandeep Punia who was sent to jail under section 353, 332 which stand for using criminal force and voluntarily hurting a public servant respectively.
The 26th January mishap was a great turning point of the protest and since then, the security at the borders of Delhi including the Singhu, Tikri and Ghazipur Borders. Moreover, the electricity, water and internet facilities at these borders were also suspended and the protestors have been lathi-charged by the police.
Raising voice against such atrocities, many international celebrities tweeted in support of the farmers including Rihana, Greta Thunberg and many more.
