In order to reach Delhi as per their ‘Delhi Chalo’ march, the ‘famers’ are now breaking barricades on the borders of Delhi like the Shambhu border, and while daily commuting for the people living in Delhi on the borders with Haryana has become difficult due to security arrangements and traffic diversions, caused because of the ‘farmers’ and their march, the separatist colours of this movement have come to the fore, yet again.
Back in 2021, when the farmers were allegedly protesting against the three farm laws which were to be introduced, were seen attacking policemen and brandishing swords in front of them; they were seen attacking and pushing police personnel from the ramparts of the Red Fort; and after throwing away the Tricolour on the Red Fort, they also placed a ‘Khalistan’ flag at the same spot. Apart from all this anarchy, their talks and demands of a separate nation ‘Khalistan’ could not be ignored, along with their slogans like, ‘Indira thok di, Modi kya cheez hai?’ (Indira was shot, what is Modi then?)
Now, three years later, not much has changed with this movement. Barricades are still being broken, the Prime Minister is being abused, and most importantly yet haplessly, the demands of ‘Khalistan’ are being made by these so-called farmers as they participate in this protest. Videos of individuals who are part of the march to Delhi are doing the rounds on social media, which unequivocally indicate that not everything about this protest is related directly to farmers, the simple world of agriculture, and the grievances of the farmers.
In one video, a ‘disgruntled farmer’ can be heard saying, ‘Separate Punjab, you have separated us from India, so now let us remain separated. This Modi Sarkar does not like Punjab, and if you do not like Punjab, leave us. Let us make our separate Khalistan, and we will get merged with Pakistan after we make Khalistan.’
In another similar video clip, a journalist can be seen talking to a ‘farmer’, who says, ‘We have no hopes from these people (the government). We want an independent Punjab, a Khalistan Punjab.’ And as this demand was put up by the ‘farmer’, the journalist speaking with him quite evidently got uncomfortable and remarked, ‘We are not talking of Khalistan here.’
At this juncture, it is crucial to ponder upon the fact whether a ‘poor, distressed, and innocent’ farmer asking for a separate country, and demanding India to be tore into pieces can be called just and valid; and whether this protest is simply about demands like pensions to farmers, India’s withdrawal from the WTO, and increased import duties; or something much more sinister and anti-India.
