The deadly second wave of the Chinese virus took many lives and is continuing to do so. Amid the coronavirus spread, the so-called farmers’ protest was just like the icing on the cake.
The so-called farmers’ protest started on 26th November 2020 when India was already dealing with the crisis the Wuhan virus gave the world. To add to its beauty the farmers across regional boundaries came together to mass protest against the new farm laws put out by the central government in favour of the farmers.
However, by misusing the fundamental right to protest, the farmers and their leaders managed to put India down with the image it stood up with pride during the times of Covid. They managed to deteriorate the image and the pride the nation took on its tricolour by flagging it off the pole from the red fort on 26th January 2021. Massive violence was witnessed by the world on the pious day of the Republic.
Before Republic Day and even after there were many conferences held between the Centre and the farmers. After 11 rounds of talks, by the intervention of the Supreme Court of the land, the stay was put on the farm laws, and the Centre was ordered to take the New Farm laws back for a while, the time lag being 18 months. Though the demands of the farmers to repeal the same was fulfilled in a way, breaking the promise they managed to harass the government as well as the public with their misdeeds which came out some time ago. From blocking the roads, to harassing the journalists, harassing the women and young girls by snipping in the windows, to abuse the persons, to abuse the government, to even rape a girl, they are still sitting at the spot to put the surroundings and the nation into an unsafe zone which none can come out of easily.
When most of the people were busy blaming the government for allowing sacred religious gatherings, none exposed or talked about the “so-called” farmer’s protest.
On various occasions, the farmer leader Rakesh Tikait on his social media account announced to have to meet huge crowds of the farmers at various places.
[one_half][/one_half][one_half_last]आज उत्तर प्रदेश जनपद अलीगढ़ के गोंडा में आयोजित किसान पंचायत की तस्वीरों को इस उद्देश्य से साझा कर रहा हूं कि आंदोलन जिंदा ही नही खड़ा भी है।#FarmersProtests pic.twitter.com/ix74dcdWya
— Rakesh Tikait (@RakeshTikaitBKU) April 3, 2021
[/one_half_last] [one_half]@किसान पंचायत हरसोली अलवर ( राजस्थान ) pic.twitter.com/lhY6A3n7WD
— Rakesh Tikait (@RakeshTikaitBKU) April 2, 2021
[/one_half][one_half_last]गाजीपुर बॉर्डर पर होलिका दहन में काले कानूनों की प्रतियां दहन किया गया । pic.twitter.com/hJ0cPXoz9H
— Rakesh Tikait (@RakeshTikaitBKU) March 28, 2021
[/one_half_last]@किसान पंचायत पपलाज माता भवन, पचवारा क्षेत्र,दौसा (राजस्थान) pic.twitter.com/YUwhDqeKZc
— Rakesh Tikait (@RakeshTikaitBKU) March 27, 2021
Amid the Chinese virus spreading its wings inside the boundaries, the Delhi – Haryana borders were overflown with large crowds and gatherings which undoubtedly resulted in a high upsurge of the Wuhan virus in the national capital and the nation as well.
The new mutant that was found in many in the nation was destroying the human race with huge rapidity and instead of supporting the nation fight the current crisis, the farmers on the borders were busy arranging the meets and spreading the new mutation.
To mark the day of May 26 as “Resistance Day’ as on the same day 7 years back Prime Minister Narendra Modi took an oath of holding the office as Prime as his position, a delegation of 40 farmers of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) had announced a nationwide protest at the borders.
The SKM leader Balbir Singh Rajewal confirmed the news saying “On May 26th, 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took the oath of the office as the prime minister of India. On completion of 7 years of PM Modi led government on 26th May 2021 and also on completion of six months of our protest, we will observe a Black Day”.
Another active member of SKM and the Krantikari Kisan Union’s president Dr. Darshan Pal announced to protest in every village, cities and Delhi border. He directed the farmers of the respective places to show their support by wearing black turbans, dupattas, and black clothes. Also, to hoist black flags on their rooftops and tractors and burn effigies of the Modi government in every village. He assured of doing the protest following all the covid appropriate behaviour.
Though the president’s address included them to follow all the Covid protocols, the promise seemed to be all limited to the door.
The opposition of India instead of joining hands to handle the biggest crisis of mankind is busy though to extend their support to the farmers’ protest as they came out in support of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha’s nationwide protest. A press release for the same was made on May 23, 2021.
The opposition parties who joined hands were Sonia Gandhi (INC), HD Deve Gowda (JD-S), Sharad Pawar (NCP), Uddhav Thackeray (SS), MK Stalin (DMK), Hemant Soren (JMM), Farooq Abdullah (JKPA), Akhilesh Yadav (SP), Tejaswi Yadav (RJD), D Raja (CPI), Sitaram Yechury (CPI-M).
We extend our support to the call given by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) to observe a countrywide protest day on May 26, marking the completion of six months of the heroic peaceful Kisan struggle.
– Joint Statement by 12 Major Opposition Parties pic.twitter.com/pfIByd3vjI
— Congress (@INCIndia) May 23, 2021
The National Centre for Disease Control and institute under the Indian Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare presented a report on Punjab which read “Punjab played a key role in the rise of causes related to the B.1.1.7 variant. There were at least four major clusters (super spreader events), marriages, and farmer protests from February 1 to February 28 that are responsible for large spikes. By March, Delhi was warned about a possible 15,000 critical cases. The report was presented by Dr. Sujeet Singh, Director of NCDC.
As per the reports, the UK strain that was found in India was carried with the NRIs inside the boundary. Few cities of Punjab recorded most of the Covid cases in the region having the UK strain brought by the UK residents to India.
Kapurthala and Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar in Punjab scaled 26% of the total cases in Punjab with the new strain. The regions fall under the Doaba region which is also known as the ‘NRI belt’ with the contribution of around 25.6% of the total COVID deaths on March 19 and around 28% of the total COVID deaths on April 5.
A graph can be seen projecting the mismanagement of the state governments.
[one_third][/one_third][one_third][/one_third][one_third_last][/one_third_last]
As per the reports, most of the NRIs are believed to be AAP supporters and on visiting their relatives and family in the hometown, the return of them is believed to be the bringing of the UK strain in India. Even they extended their support to the farmers’ protest and thus the Wuhan virus is spread across the boundaries of Punjab and Delhi.
Not only the cases of COVID-19 but that of the Black fungus too is observed on a high scale among the protestors and the borders that they are resting on, making it even more drastic for the state governments to have control over the situation in this crisis.
However, there always have a lobby that supports the anti-national elements inside and outside to let down the nation emerging as the fastest developing nation, and this lobby each time tries to manipulate the minds of people to get on the throne. The protestors who call themselves to be a saviour of the democracy are right now doing the most to let it down on the international plinth. It becomes moral duty to extend the support to the good and necessity of the hour.
[author title=”Shreya Gohel” image=”http://localhost/gc2/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/20210127_014031.jpg”]Intern, Goa Chronicle
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