Farmers Movement Archive

Loud & clear at Delhi's Singhu Border: Battle half-won

NEW DELHI: “The battle is only half-won and the fight needs to go on,” blared the loudspeakers at Singhu border on Tuesday afternoon after the Supreme Court stayed the implementation of the three agri laws. The protesting farmers and union leaders echoed that they would not go back until the “black laws” were repealed. Several among them also expressed reservations about the formation of a committee to discuss the issue, citing examples like the handling of the protests at Shaheen Bagh. The Supreme Court order was met with mixed emotions of slight relief and a lot of caution and apprehension. Sukhbir Singh from Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee told the gathering that their struggle had reached a very important phase. “In the past several battles in Punjab’s history, victory was lost due to paperwork. We need to be very careful. The judicial process should not be used as a shield by the political system. The court should ask the central government why it is interfering with farming by treating it as a trade when agriculture is a state subject,” added Sukhbir. Taranpreet Singh from Moga in Punjab said that stays granted by courts were sometimes used for putting the matter in cold storage. “Just look at the Satluj Yamuna link canal issue. The courts stayed the construction in the 1980s, but that has not been able to solve the core dispute even after decades,” he added. Apprehensive that the stay would be used to slow the movement, Taranpreet said, “So many young and old people have gathered here. Should they simply go back because of the stay so that the government can implement these laws later? We have come quite ahead in this fight and a lot is at stake.” Sardar Arjinder Singh, another protester, said the stay would not ultimately translate to anything. “It can be taken back at any point,” he argued. While the initial reaction of the farmers’ unions was that they would study the stay order, there was no clarity on whether the protesters would remain at the borders till the laws were repealed. Many in the “tent city” developed on the Delhi-Chandigarh highway were found unaware of the developments and said they would do whatever their respective unions decided. Most farmers were adamant that they would only return if the laws were repealed. Jasbeer Singh, the head of a group of farmers, said that formation of a committee may not be the right way. “We have been holding protests for the past four months despite the summer heat, chilly winter and rain. People have sacrificed so much and over 70 people have died. Who will be accountable towards them?” he asked. “The formation of the committee should not be used to slow down the movement. They should repeal the laws and then form the committee of all stakeholders and experts. The court stay is not the final solution. We will go back happily once the agri laws are scrapped,” added Jasbeer.

The Times of India

2021-01-13

Delhi