02/04/2021
Vigorously Support the Farmers Movement
Oppose the Three Farmers’ Laws
January 26, 2021 was the 72nd Republic Day of India. The traditional parade was to be held in Delhi on that day to display the splendour and military might of the Indian state. On the same day the leaders of Samyukat Kisan Morcha decided to hold a tractor rally on a separate route in which over three hundred thousand tractors had arrived to participate. A sizable contingent of marchers, led by agent provocateur, Deep Sidhu and a splinter group, were diverted by the police towards the historic Red Fort. They were allowed to enter the Fort and raise a religious flag as the police stood by and watched. This was all done to distract and demoralise the main rally of the farmers. Violence broke out and the damage was done. The whole world read, heard and watched the mayhem as at least one person died, 300 detained, protestors were beaten and false criminal cases were filed against the leadership who were nowhere near where it all took place. The peaceful parade in which thousands of tractors took part and was welcomed by the people on the streets was never mentioned in the print media or shown on TV by the Godi media.
Two days later water and electricity were cut off at the Ghazipur border quarters of the farmers. Police arrived with an order to vacate the site and to arrest Rakesh Takait, one of the leaders of the Kisan Kirti Morcha. Takait’s bold stand and impassioned speech was the spark plug needed to rejuvenate the demoralised movement. Hundreds of thousands of people from UP started to march overnight towards the Ghazipur border to support their leader and vowed to return only when the three laws were repealed. It was reminiscent of the time in 1857 when ten thousand people marched from Meerut to Delhi to wage the First War of Independence and fight hand to hand against the British colonial forces in the streets of Delhi. Large contingents of people from Haryana and Punjab are marching towards Delhi to join them.
Goons sponsored by the BJP and RSS and protected by the police showed up at the Singhu and Tikri border after the attack on Ghazipur. These people were determined to provoke people on religious grounds and disrupt the harmony of the movement. The Modi government and BJP have tried every weapon in their armour to discredit the movement by calling it by various names: Khalistinis, Naxalites, agents of Pakistan and incited by political parties. This movement is not a Hindu, Sikh or Muslim any more. It is not about even farmers anymore. “It has become a community rebellion of the whole country.” This agitation is about the dignity of the people of India. It is not even limited to the outskirts of Delhi now. The battle ground of Delhi has spread to every village, district and state of the entire country. Morchas and Dharanas are being held in every corner of India. All the opposition parties have united to support the movement. According to Indian Express the farmers unions are witnessing a renewed vigour with many village level committees sending a large number of people and not just farmers to support the movement. One individual from every home.
The BJP led Modi government has wilted under the pressure of WTO, IMF and agribusiness corporations Like Adani and Ambani. Modi is adamant to privatise public enterprises such as Railways, mines and health system. Education is already in private hands. This is not the time to beat a retreat. The farmers are outraged against the system that is unfair and unjust. Now is the time to march forward. We vigorously support the farmers’ demands. The three laws must be repealed, nothing less than that. These laws have become the symbol of all that is draconian, unjust and oppressive.
We vehemently condemn the Modi government, BJP and RSS who try to divide people on religious and communal basis and use the police to oppress the movement of the people. We vigorously support the farmers’ struggle against the three laws. We call upon the Indian diaspora to support the farmers in India.
Repeal the Three Farmers’ Laws
Withdraw the charges against Kisan Leaders
Kisan Mazdoor Ekta Zindabad
East Indian Defence Committee: Iqbal Purewal ( 604-720-1652 )
Taraksheel Society of Canada: Avtar Gill ( 604-728-7011 )
