Barnala rally rebuffs design to communalise farm struggle, asserts its non-religious content

 

Barnala rally rebuffs design to communalise farm struggle, asserts its non-religious content

Jagtar Singh

Ground Zero

 

Such massive assertion of people’s power used to be witnessed in Punjab till eighties but the content of those rallies used to be religio-political in nature.

It is after decades that this border state has witnessed similar phenomenon but with a difference. The stellar rally of farmers and farm workers at Barnala on February 21 organised under the banner of Bharti Kisan Union (Ekta Ugrahan) was different in tone and tenor. The Barnala rally has taken the fight against anti-people model of corporate development introduced by the nationalist Narendra Modi government to a new level. Punjab returns to the command position from where it had been forced to make a shift following the January 26 distortions in the battle during the tractor parade that provided the much-needed handle to the government to attack this struggle purely on issues of existence to being covertly being backed by the extremists in the Sikh religio-political domain.

The leaders from of the Sanyukta Kisan Morcha that is spearheading the struggle were also present.

The gathering near to this rally was last witnessed in 2015 at Chabba but that was on the issues relating to the sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib at Bargari. The command of the conference was with the people who had first emerged on the scene in Punjab during militant struggle. That rally articulated the anger and anguish of the Sikhs. However, it ended in anti-climax within minutes of certain announcements. That rally would have otherwise unleashed the forces to construct a new political platform to challenge the established parties.

Virtually the same forces have been active ever since the start of the farmers struggle to hijack it and paint it as the fight for the Sikh issues. The players are too familiar. The first indication to this effect was available when attempt was made by these players to bring in the Anandpur Sahib Resolution and the narrative associated with Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale who attained martyrdom for the cause he was fighting for. His sacrifice is epitomized by the martyrs memorial in the Darbar Sahib (Golden Temple) complex.

None would have questioned the intent of these players trying to hijack this struggle to the radical domain provided this battle had been started by them. They should launch struggle for the issues they espouse to prove their commitment, but only after the farmers struggle ends.

Ironically, the people from this section continue to attack the farmer leaders on the social media platforms. Of course, there might be similar elements in the Left domain too. However, this acrimonious and abusive debate only weakens the struggle. This amounts to playing into the hands of the Modi government. It is for these people to decide as to which side they are.

These people forget the basic teaching of Guru Nanak of discussion and debate. What they are indulging in suits the Modi government. It is the outcome of the actions that matter.

The Barnala rally has provided new impetus to the farmers struggle and defeated the design of these regressive forces.

The issue is what next.

Punjab might be just 13 Lok Sabha seats but this state is critical to the national political narrative at different level. Punjab is highly seismic zone and this dimension just can’t be ignored.

It is Uttar Pradesh that has started worrying the BJP leadership where the tide is now turning against the divisive narrative. In case UP rocks, its tremors would be felt across the  cow belt, the support base of the BJP.

The farmers struggle is moving towards evolving non-religious platform to confront the divisive agenda of the BJP at the national level and the Barnala rally is a milestone in that context. The resolution adopted at this rally is important.

The resolution asserts, “We make it clear that this struggle is non-religious. We respect every religion but are firm in keeping this struggle secular. No communal force would be allowed to use this platform. Every design to dent it would be defeated”.

The struggle is under global focus as it is for the first time that the development model rooted in free market has faced such massive resistance. This model is anti-people.

The issue is no more the repeal of the three black laws and legal guarantee to the minimum support price. It is that of dignified existence.