Kisan Andolan – Confrontation is not the way out

 

Kisan Andolan – Confrontation is not the way out

The subject of Kisan Andolan (Farmers Agitation) has been touched upon a couple of times in my blogs in the recent past. The standoff between the agitating farmers and the central government on the controversial agricultural laws is still going on in its 8th month on the borders of Delhi. Ever since much water has flown in the Yamuna but no solution is in sight. On the other hand, both the sides have decided to stick to their respective stands – farmers want complete withdrawal of the three laws and the government is ready

to discuss these laws and make necessary amendments. Many rounds of formal and informal talks among the stake holders to untie the knots could not result into any way out to solve the problem. It is a matter of regret and concern, even judicial interventions by the courts including the Supreme Court could not help. The impasse has resulted in huge losses to the economy and undue sufferings not only to the agitating farmers but the ordinary citizens too. The agitation sites at the border entries of Delhi with huge settlements in about 15 km stretch sends a wrong message to international communities and tells poorly on our democratic polity. It is a clear ‘Grammar of Anarchy” to put in the terminology of no one else but the chief architect of the constitution, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. We must solve this problem and end the standoff immediately, the sooner the better. We will ignore this warning at our own peril.

Kisan Sansad at Jantar Mantar New Delhi

As usual, I am no expert on the subject but thought of writing about the issue as a lay man but a concerned and rather perturbed citizen of India. My immediate provocation is the Kisan March and Protest (Kisan Sansad) at the Parliament starting from July 23. Both the Houses of Parliament are fully seized of the matter and the opposition parties are up in arms to corner the government in every possible way. It is a matter of great dissatisfaction that both the government and the opposition are not fully engaged with each other to address this national crisis and, on the other hand, seem to be worried about the brownie points to serve there narrow political agendas.  It is the very negation of democratic principles and norms. The warning of Babasaheb Ambedkar on the issue comes to my mind. I share what Dr. Ambedkar said in the Constituent Assembly on November 25, 1949 in his last speech before the constitution was finally passed. He said, referring to historical events such as the invasion of Sind by Mohammed-Bin-Kasim, the invasion by Mohammad Ghauri to fight against Prithviraj Chauhan, as well as disunity among Indians in the fight against the British colonial rule

in 1857, Babasaheb Ambedkar noted “…not only India has once before lost her independence, but she lost it by the infidelity and treachery of some of her own people.”  In this context, he went on to remark,“Will history repeat itself? It is this thought which fills me with anxiety. This anxiety is deepened by the realization of the fact that in addition to our old enemies in the form of castes and creeds we are going to have many political parties with diverse and opposing political creeds. Will Indians place the country above their creed or will they place creed above country? I do not know. But this much is certain that if the parties place creed above country, our independence will be put in jeopardy a second time and probably be lost forever. This eventuality we must all resolutely guard against. We must be determined to defend our independence with the last drop of our blood.”

 ”Though the number of marchers and protesters have been restricted to a mere 200 yet there is every possibility that things go out of hand knowingly or otherwise. The events of January 26, the Republic Day are still fresh which resulted in avoidable confrontation and violence.

You would observe that I am not taking shelter under the guise of fact, figures, statistics, quotes, economic formulations and political viewpoints which the government Ministers and experts have been putting forth to argue their respective takes on the subject. This long drawn exercise has not resulted into any acceptable position towards the solution. What is the way out to break the logjam? The answer, to my mind, is – not Confrontation but Cooperation. There cannot be two opinions that agricultural reforms are needed to upgrade and upscale the farming sector in the country not only as the backbone of internal economy but also to integrate with the world economy in the changing scenario of international cooperation. Where have we gone wrong in this regard? First, I think, there is growing perception that the government has not consulted and discussed the issue with the farmers, other stake holders and the opposition before bringing and passing the legislation in the parliament hurriedly in a hushed way. It is too late to do anything now but to accept the fact that the laws are in place on the statute book. The extreme positions – complete repeal of the laws on the part of agitating farmers and revisit and necessary amendments on the part of the government – have become unrecognizable with the passage of time and long drawn agitation and prolonged negotiations. Egos, though misplaced, on both the sides, are standing in the way. We are yet to learn “Gyansheel” means and approaches, again in the phraseology of Dr. Ambedkar, to solve problems in a democratic setup. May be some ‘out of the box’ solution is needed in a time bound manner through direct and other channels to address the issue. Let me share what comes to my mind in this regard:-

·       The three agricultural laws should be held in abeyance, as of now, till alternate laws are made.

·       The Central Government should invite farmers, opposition parties and other stake holders for unconditional talks and discussions with one point agenda to find out a solution to the standoff to move forward.

·       Farmers should suspend/call off the agitation

·       A Joint high level and empowered Committee of Government representatives, leaders of farmers, leaders of opposition, agricultural experts, constitutional experts, civil society etc. should be constituted to discuss the issue threadbare and submit a report along with draft bills in a time bound manner, say in three months. The existing three laws which farmers want repealed and government is willing to consider amendments to these laws should be the reference material and may be considered as drafts to begin with. Government should provide help and assistance to this Committee.

·       Government should consider the report and the draft bills formulated by the said Committee and present it to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Agriculture within two weeks to discuss and clean the draft bills.

·       Government should make these bills as laws through ordinances within two weeks of the submissions of the Parliamentary Committee as per the parliamentary procedures.

·       These ordinances or bills as the case may be should be brought to a Joint Session of the Parliament, at the first opportunity, and get these passed with due procedure including discussion and amendments, if any.

 

It should be done in a time bound and transparent manner with a view to heal pent up and ruffled feelings of the agitating farmers and adversely affected common citizens. Egos of the government and agitators would not be hurt. Government and the opposition would have their say and position registered in the Joint Session of the Parliament as per the parliamentary practices and procedures in a democratic way. All the parties and stakeholders should accept this and honour the laws passed, with due procedure, by the duly elected and mandated government. Still, there may remain some issues or reservations. It is natural and not uncalled for. We the people of India are free to settle these matters in a democratic way by re-voting to power or unseating the current dispensation as we like by assessing and judging their delivery. Democratic and civilized societies behave this way to ward off the country from the “Grammar of Anarchy”.  This ‘out of the box’ approach will give to the barring opinions, a win-win feeling and the country will come to rails again. With all the best wishes of a novice who is concerned about our country India that is Bharat.