Hoshiarpur (The Stellar News),Saksham: 10TH MARCH, 2021 Government of India passed three farm laws on 17th September 2020 in Lok Sabha and on 20th September2020 in Rajya Sabha. Government called these farm laws a big step towards the betterment of Indian farmers. In these farm laws, First is, The Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020; second is The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020; and third is The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020.
1st Law Facilitate all farmers to sell their crops in any part of country rather than selling in near Mandi’s. Second law relaxes restrictions on stocking food items and third gives permission to contract farming. After the laws passed by Centre Government, various Farm Unions of Punjab started protesting against three laws and Centre Government. Some Unions started stopping trains to show their protest. Many started strikes in state and forcefully captured toll plazas. Farmers of Punjab not just shows anger against government but also against big Private Companies. Many Showrooms, Petrol Pumps, Shopping Complexes were closed by farmers.
This protest has not taken a big face until the farm unions decided to go Delhi and continue their protest there. After the announcement of ‘Delhi Chalo Andolan’ by Farm Unions, farmers from various parts of Punjab and Haryana moved towards Delhi. Farmers reached on 28th November at Singhu Border. Farmers faced many problems on the way to Delhi. In their route to Delhi, Haryana police barricaded and dug state highways to stop farmers. But, nothing works on that day and farmers crossed all the barricades with their tractors. Hundreds of farmers from Haryana and Punjab reached Delhi borders with their tractors and trawlies. But when they reached singhu border of delhi, delhi police stopped them. So, farmers decided to continue their protest on singhu border.
Farmers blocked various borders of Delhi. They started a peaceful protest on Delhi borders. They showed their patience and this patience results in developing pressure on government to take some decision on laws. Many steps were taken by farmers to intensify agitation like blocking national highways, calling Bharat Bandh, freeing Toll Plazas for public. About three times Farmers meeted Railway Minister Piyush Goyal, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar. But no positive results came out.
But after noticing crowd on borders, Centre Government decided to call up more meetings with farmers. Farmers and Agriculture Minister along with other Government officials met about 11 times. Again no one agreed with each other and matter remained unsolved. Before 26th January protest was undergoing peacefully. But when Farm Unions announced a ‘Tractor March’ on Delhi routes. All Farm Unions called all farmers of country to participate in Tractor Rally. Delhi Police filed a Plea in Supreme Court to apply stay on ‘Tractor March’. Delhi Police said there are speculations of violence by some miscreants on republic day. But Supreme Court rejected the plea and said that, we don’t stop farmers just on the basis of speculations. So, after this Delhi police created a route map and gave to farmers. Farmers agreed on map and promised to perform tractor rally peacefully. Delhi police gave timing to farm unions for tractor rally after 12:00pm. But nothing proceeds as Delhi police and farmers planning. Lots of farmers changed their routes and moved towards other roads of Delhi. Conflict taken place between farmers and Delhi police. Many farmers reached Red Fort and violated law and order. They hosted religious flag (Nishan Saheb) on the pole of red fort.
After this government came in action and cleared red fort site and arrested various persons involved in riots. Various farm union leaders got summons from Delhi Police and ED. Some farm unions withdraw their support from Farmer’s agitation and many farmers started moving towards their homes. After that Uttar Pradesh Government ordered to clear UT borders. Police force was deployed on agitation sites. Police gave ultimatum to farm union leaders to finish this agitation. But in an interview Rakesh Tikait Leader of BKU started crying which gave a boost to farmers protest. Farmers again started reaching borders. Then Epicenter of agitation shifted from Singhu Border to Gaziabad Border. During this agitation social media wars were in discussion, many foreign personalities commented on this issue. Question raised in various parliaments of country as well as world. Government is ready to do modifications in these laws but farmers are still not ready to amend laws. Farmers cleared their stand and stayed on repelling of laws. This is strange that protest have completed 105days but public is still waiting for solution.
