The farmers of Punjab under the banner of Kisan Majdoor Morcha (KMM) and Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM, non-political) are agitating for fulfilment of their long pending demands, including guarantee for MSP for more than ten months, but not to talk about the acceptance of their demands, the farmers are being stopped even to enter Haryana for their ‘Delhi Chalo’ march by using teargas and water cannon in the chilling cold of December.
The State Committee of Bharatiya Kisan Union Ekta Dakoanda, in a statement issued to media, strongly condemning the Haryana Police’s repression of farmers who started marching peacefully from Sambhu border to Delhi with a group of 101 farmers, referred that earlier many ministers and leaders of Bharatiya Janata Party had said that farmers can go to Delhi if they do not bring tractors, but now they are not being allowed to go to Delhi even on foot. The organization said that this has exposed the fascist and anti-farmer face of the Bharatiya Janata Party.
The General Secretary of the All-India Congress Committee, former Union Minister, and MP from Sirsa, Kumari Selja has also condemned the police action, “It is condemnable to forcibly stop farmers marching peacefully to Delhi demanding a law guaranteeing MSP (Minimum Support Price), by resorting to lathi-charge and firing tear gas shells. The oppressive policies adopted by the government are not the solution to farmers’ problems. If the government genuinely wants to resolve the issues faced by farmers, it should engage in dialogue with them.”
Here the noteworthy thing is that the India’s Vice-President, Jagdeep Dhankhar himself is also expressing his rage over the inaction of the government for neglecting the demands of the farmers.
The Vice-President comments with a disheartened voice – “There was a movement last year, there is a movement this year too, the wheel of time is turning, we are not doing anything. Farmers in distress and farmers in agitation do not augur well for the overall well-being of the Nation.”
Supporting the MSP demand of the farmers, The Vice-President warns, “We are not practical, our policy making is not on the right track. Farmers need a law that guarantees MSP. Look with an open mind, think with an open mind, and evaluate. And it pains me that the well-wishers of the farmers are silent today, they shy away from speaking. No power in the country can stifle the voice of the farmers. A nation will pay a huge price, if it tries the patience of a farmer.”
Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar’s address on December 3,2024, at the Centenary Foundation Day of Indian Council of Agricultural Research -Central Institute for Research on Cotton Technology (ICAR-CIRCOT), Mumbai has not only astonished the political analysts, but also perplexed them. How and why the Vice-President expressed his voice of heart which ripped to pieces the farmer policy of his own government even in the presence of Union Agriculture Minister, Shiv Raj Chauhan? Why did he changed his tune and tone irrespective of his staunch faithfulness in the government, which throned him to the present chair? Whether his heart really has lineage towards the aggrieved farmers or he has some other specific agenda? Shocking thing was that he raised some conscience piercing questions.
Indicating towards the Agricultural Research Institutes, the Vice-President said that in a country of 1.4 billion people, a network of such institutions, dotting every nook and corner of the country, covering every activity of agronomy, ‘What is happening? Has the farmer’s scenario changed? What is reaching the farmer?’
“If the institutions were alive and contributing, this situation would never have arisen. These are the questions before you and us.”
He asked, “We need to look inside as to why we have not been able to do this till now. Is agriculture not developing in the world? Is technology not coming? This is a matter to think about.”
Mr Dhankhar asserted, “Whatever is done for the farmers is less. Whatever you do for the farmers will have an impact on the country, in a positive way. When I look at the institutions and see where their impact is?”
Showing his concern towards the aggrieved farmers, Vice-President said, “If farmers are protesting today, it would be a big misunderstanding and mistake to assess that movement in a limited way. The farmers who are not on the road are also worried and troubled today.”
Mr. Dhankhar warned the government for its lethargic attitude towards farmers, “We cannot fight with our own people, we cannot put our own people in a situation where they are wondering how long they will fight. We cannot have the mindset that their stay will be limited and they will get tired on their own.”
Quoting farmer leader, Jagjit Singh Dallewal’s message, the Vice-President asked the Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan, “Honourable Agriculture Minister, what did he say, what is his message for me? His message is – why was the promise made to the farmers not fulfilled?”
Mr. Dhankhar further asked, “We all should know, was any promise made to the farmers? Honourable Agriculture Minister, did the agriculture minister who was before you make any promise in writing? If he did make a promise, then what happened to it?”
The Vice-President advised the agriculture minister, “The challenge for you is that when any government makes a promise and that promise is linked to the farmer, then we should never leave any stone unturned. The farmer is respectable for us, he is worth remembering in the dawn, he is always revered. I myself am a farmer’s son, I know what all the farmer does not bear, and he is our provider of food.”
Commenting on ignoring the farmers’ demands, Mr. Dhankhar said, “Hey, instead of giving reward, we are not paying what is due. We are being stingy even in giving what was promised, and I don’t understand why talks are not being held with the farmers?”
“Can we create a boundary between the farmer and the government? Why is this happening, why is my farmer worried? Why is he suffering? Why is the farmer stressed?” These lines seem to show that the Vice-President is heartedly worried about the plight of the farmers, but will the central government listen to the voice of his hurted heart?
The Vice-President’s heart seems to burst, when he says, “The farmer is alone and helpless. He doesn’t decide what he can decide. Agriculture Minister, every moment of yours is important. I request you and the person in the second position under the Indian Constitution is requesting you to please tell me what was promised to the farmer and what was promised, why was it not fulfilled and what should we do to fulfil the promise?”
Now the question arises, whether the central government will heed towards the painful voice of the second highest throned person or will it remain unheard like a cry in the wilderness (Nakkarkhaane Mein Tuti Ki Aawaaz)?
What a surprise! Why and how the hardcore stand of the Vice-President suddenly softened? Hardly the morning wet dried, the Vice-President changed his tone. Though Mr. Dhankhar roared like a wounded lion in his address at ICAR, but just within three days, he praised Shiv Raj Chauhan stating him ‘Kisan Ladala’ (farmers’ dear) in Rajya Sabha, but what made him to change his tone, is perplexing the people. K P Malik, a Delhi based senior journalist raises his doubts, “The barrage of questions that His Excellency Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar had hurled at Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Chauhan three days ago turned out to be just a farce. According to Dhankhar ji, perhaps all the problems of the farmers on which His Excellency had raised questions were resolved in three days. That is why he has taken a U-turn! Now what is the reason for taking a U-turn? Has he received some dose or has Shivraj Singh solved all the problems of the farmers? That is why His Excellency has given Shivraj Singh a new name ‘Kisanon ka Laadla’.”
What the reality is? Will it come out with the passage of time or remain buried under the dark blanket of political helplessness?
Jag Mohan Thaken is a Senior Journalist, Columnist & Political Analyst, views are personal
