On 19th November, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared the withdrawal of three farm laws. Samyjukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), the umbrella organization of 40 farmers’ unions and associations stated that they “will wait for the announcement to take effect through due parliamentary procedures. If this happens, it will be a historic victory’’. They said their demand for a statutory guarantee of remunerative prices for all agricultural produce and for all farmers is not fulfilled yet. They also demand the withdrawal of the Electricity Amendment Bill. According to the constitution and legal experts also, the government will have to bring a bill in parliament to repeal the three farm laws. Meanwhile, farmers’ collective SKM have decided to continue their movement. They will go ahead with peaceful tractor march to Parliament, every day during the Winter Session.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is a Right-wing Hindu nationalist party. The BJP-led central government follows neo-liberal economic policy. They passed these three pro-corporate farm laws in September 2020. The Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020; Farmers (Empowerment & Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance & Farm Services Bill; The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill, 2020. There are allegations that these laws will damage farmers’ livelihoods and pave the path for corporate control of the entire agricultural sector. Farmers of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and Rajasthan started agitation. Gradually hundreds of thousands of farmers joined the movement in various parts of the country. As a result, the Modi government was forced to suspend these farm laws earlier this year.
Elections will be held in five states including Punjab and Uttar Pradesh next year. During this period, farmers’ protests made BJP very uncomfortable. Agitating farmers have been camping at the borders of the capital city of Delhi for more than one year. BJP leaders threatened them. Corporate media conducted random misinformation campaigns. The Modi government also used violence to suppress the movement. But the farmers resisted fearlessly. They are continuing this mass movement united. Nearly seven hundred farmers have been martyred in this ongoing struggle. In Lakhimpur Kheri, farmers are also murdered.
It is noteworthy that the agitators have been able to garner the support of various sections of society. They also influenced electoral politics through the anti-BJP campaign. Protesting farmers utilized many methods such as peaceful protest, nationwide strike as well as militant mass movement. In these circumstances, anti-BJP parties have to extend their support to them. The movement has spread across the nation. It is not confined to anti-farm law protests. But this victory of farmers’ agitation is inspiring all people’s movements against the fascist Modi government.
But yet Indian agriculture is in deep crisis. Farmers are committing suicide. To solve this severe problem, ensuring remunerative price and market of agricultural products is necessary. Government should take responsibility. Sustainable farming practices, increased government investments in agriculture, infrastructural development as well as radical land reform are essential. To achieve this goal, movements on the streets can show the way.
21.11.2021
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