COURTESY HT JAN 19Farmers must involve political parties, not keep them out of agitation’
Bajwa, a former Punjab Congress chief, wants that the laws on agri reforms must be re-enacted. HT FILE
After nine rounds of talks between the Centre and the farmers agitating at Delhi’s doorsteps, there has been little progress on ending the deadlock. Both sides are adamant on their stand – the central government has refused to repeal the laws, and the farmers are unwilling to return to their homes with anything less.
Rajya Sabha MP Partap Singh Bajwa, who initiated the discussion on two of these farm bills and led the Congress’ charge in the upper house in September 2020, had described them as “death warrants of farmers” that the party will not sign on. In an interview to Hindustan Times, the articulate former state Congress president, who is well-versed with Punjab’s turbulent history, spoke about the way forward, options before the Modi government and the political fallout of the ongoing agitation:
The protest has been going on for months. The SC intervened and set up a committee but that has not resolved the issue. What’s the way forward?
There is no other way but to repeal the three laws. What is wrong with taking them back and having a fresh look at the whole thing? (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi is saying we have brought these laws for farmers’ benefits. If farmers are not accepting these, why don’t you take them back?
Union agriculture minister Tomar has ruled out repeal of these laws. Where are things headed?
In this kind of a clash, one side will have to blink. Over 100 years ago, an agitation by farmers made famous by a song ‘Pagri Sambhal Jatta’, against three British laws went on for nine months and they had to repeal the laws at a time when we were not even independent. Luckily or unluckily, the protest is against three laws this time. The government will have to blink. They are not our rulers, like the British were. They are one amongst us.
The BJP govt at the Centre has an argument that they have a mandate from the people to enact laws and bring about change.
The UPA government also had the mandate. Why did Modi as Gujarat CM not sign on Goods and Services Tax (GST) then? A mandate does not mean you can steamroll and bring any anti-people law. Also, the external environment is inimical to India. After Kashmir, Punjab is second the minority-majority state and has frontiers with Pakistan, which, according to state and national security agencies, is trying to foment trouble by sending weapons. There are sensitivities involved. The central government has to be extra careful. You cannot get on the wrong side of farmers who constitute 60% of the country’s population. There is a perception that they are not looking after the interests of farmers but of corporate houses. They (government) need to correct the alignment of their vehicle. The SC has also stated that there are serious flaws in these laws. They have made a mistake. So, accept it and don’t make it an issue of false prestige.
What do you think about the committee set up by the apex court?
The farmers will not talk to them. In my view, Parliament session is starting and they should take back these laws and draft new ones which should be sent to a select committee where all stakeholders, including farmers, states and even the corporate houses, can have their say. The laws on agri reforms must be re-enacted. This is Modi’s chance to show statesmanship.
What if no side blinks and the stand-off persists?
There will be a law and order situation. It will be back to the same situation that we (in Punjab) faced 40 years ago. There can be no two views about that. The younger lot is itching for a battle. Already, 100 people have died. If this movement goes on for three more months, this number will be close to 315, same as the number of people who died at Jallianwala Bagh.
Political parties are on the margins in this stir. They are cheerleaders, but do not have any leverage.
I will appeal to the farmer unions to involve all political parties and start a dialogue. This fight is not of any particular section, but the farmers of Punjab. Parliament will meet later this month. Don’t they need support of all political parties? We are all Punjabis, and all of us are farmers. The government has to be pressurised from all sides. They should not segregate an important section out of it. If political class is not involved, it (agitation) will not lead anywhere. It is okay if they don’t call us to their stage, but we should be involved. How are they keeping us out?
What is your sense of political fallout of this agitation?
If they (protesting farmers) form their own party, they will get support in rural Punjab, perhaps a repeat of 1989 when Simranjit Singh Mann held sway. If they don’t, then it will all depend on what role they play in their respective areas. Their goodwill will remain and they will be instrumental in shaping the mood of the people.
Who will gain politically out of this movement?
It could be either Congress or Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). Not Akalis because they were a part of the NDA government. If they had raised their voice against these laws and taken the issue to people at the initial stage, these laws would have got nipped in the bud. But they got (former CM Parkash Singh) Badal to issue a video statement in favour of these laws and finished whatever goodwill he had.
What do you have to say about NIA notices to farmer leaders, activists and others?
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is meant to probe terror activities. If this is being done to give a bad name to the farmer movement, it is ill-advised. If there are some transactions, my advice would be to let the income tax department deal with it.