New Delhi : The protests began in the northwestern state of Punjab in July 2020 and subsequently extended to other parts of the country. The most spectacular of these protests happened in late November 2020, when farmers descended in great numbers on the national capital’s borders. Estimates of their numbers at this stage vary, but they were undoubtedly in excess of 50,000, and within a week or so, they had expanded to approximately 300,000 people. It peaked in January when almost a million more came from all around the country to drive their tractors through the Indian capital’s streets.
Their fortitude has been incredible. They’ve endured a hard winter, with nighttime temperatures in Delhi as low as 1-2°C. They were protesting in the sweltering heat, unfazed by a deadly second wave of COVID sweeping India. They’ve been sleeping in the carts they’ve brought along, which are tethered to their tractors, and they’ve erected up massive pandals for protest speeches. They also performed protest music, the majority of it is written and performed by Punjabi artists from Punjab, Bombay, and Canada.
As some Indian news channels have observed, this has not been a pleasant experience. More than 400 farmers have died in protest, largely at protest locations near Delhi, as a result of the harsh weather and living conditions. Some have perished in road accidents
while travelling from their villages to the protest sites on Delhi’s borders, while others have died at local protest sites in various states.
In the biggest battle for freedom, for their right of the farmers since Independence, it has been a breakthrough and surely has been a great win for the farmers and a loss for the government when Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated that last month the farm laws will be repealed, and therefore the three farm laws were eventually repealed by legislation gone along the parliament. The Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act of 2020, the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act of 2020, and also the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act of 2020 were the three legislation.
On Republic Day, farmers had given a require a tractor parade in Delhi, while the police officials had denied them any authorisation for the parade. Thousands of protesting farmers clashed with the police during the rally and there have been visuals of a violent attack on the police. Many farmers and police personnel were injured. A section of protesters climbed the walls of the enduring Red Fort and hoisted the Nishan Sahib flag. One protester reportedly died in the chaos.
The image of protesting farmers has been tarnished as a result of the violence, and it appears like the movement will die out as a result. Protesting farmers in the Ghaziabad area of Uttar Pradesh, which borders Delhi, have been ordered to leave by night. By the evening, police in anti-riot gear had collected to clear the side streets. However, farmers leaders including BKU’s Rakesh Tikait refused to offer up.
The image of protesting farmers was tarnished as a result of the violence, and was given tags of “terrorists” and “Khalistanis” it appeared that the movement would fade out. Protesting farmers within the Ghaziabad area of the province, which borders Delhi, are ordered to depart by night. By the evening, police in anti-riot gear had assembled to clear the side. Farmers’ leaders, notably Rakesh Tikait of BKU, refused to convey up.
Following 380 days of protest, which resulted in over 700 farmers being martyred and being labelled as terrorists, the farmers have begun to return to their homes, because the centre has agreed to bow down against their demands after their struggle for their right. The Center loses and the farmers win.
Farmers began their “victory march” from the protest locations of Singhu, Tikri, and Ghazipur to Punjab, Haryana, and state in convoys of tractors bedecked with colourful flowers and lights and screaming jubilant songs. Farmers’ leaders said they’ll meet again on January 15 to assess if the govt has complied with their demands.
Farmers will completely evacuate their protest camp near Ghaziabad on the Delhi-Ghaziabad border by December 15, consistent with BKU leader Rakesh Tikait, who started their first group left for Uttarakhand and state on Saturday. He claimed that a considerable chunk of the Ghazipur border would be vacated on Sunday, with the rest going by December 15. Tikait stated that he will return home after seeing off all of the farmers.
Bureau Report
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