Minneapolis, February 20

Eighty-seven farmer organisations and allied agroecology, farm and food justice groups in the United States delivered a solidarity statement in support of Indian farmers’ historic protests to Samyukta Kisan Morcha, a united front of over 40 Indian farmers unions.

In the statement, US groups express respect for the unified struggles of the farmers and farm workers and urge both US and Indian governments to support independent family farmers and localised food systems to protect food sovereignty and the livelihoods of millions.

“India’s farmers have mobilised to create one of the world’s most vibrant protests in history against unjust farm laws that will increase agribusiness’ stranglehold over their food system. They have rallied around a cry for the repeal of three laws — passed without farmers’ knowledge or consultation — that aim to liberalise Indian agriculture and food sectors, not only at the cost of farmers, but also the food security of India’s poor,” the statement said.

The signatories are concerned by several additional factors not included in this statement, such as the unconstitutional ways in which these laws were passed without following proper parliamentary rules and the Indian government’s use of authoritarian tactics to deny farmers’ right to dissent democratically.

The solidarity statement was co-sponsored by members of US farm, food and racial justice organisations, including the National Family Farm Coalition, Rural Coalition, Northwest Atlantic Marine Alliance, Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy and the Grassroots Global Justice Alliance, as well as diasporic Indians who continue to work with farmers groups in India.

“Liberalising markets without taking into account farmers’ political voice and protecting against concentrated buyer power makes a mockery of what markets should stand for; we denounce the three farm bills, the lack of consultation with farmers and their organisations, and stand in solidarity with the brave stance India’s farmers are taking,” says Sophia Murphy, executive director of the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP).

“A majority of India’s farmers are hurting, and the draconian steps that the Indian state has taken in response to peaceful farm law protests (demanding assured returns on farm produce) and against those supporting the strike (such as the detention of 21-year-old Disha Ravi, co-founder of Fridays For Future in India) is making the fault lines of Indian democracy visible to the world. India is at a turning point: it can decide to honour the demands of its farmers or continue to stand by Indian billionaires who would benefit from these farm laws,” says Shiney Varghese, senior policy analyst at IATP.

One key demand of the protesting farmers is for farmers to receive a Minimum Support Price (MSP) for all crops to limit the market power of buyers in highly unequal markets.

“The US-based signatories of the solidarity statement recognise the role the US government has played in creating the conditions that led to these repressive laws. The US has been a key opponent of India’s limited use of MSP at the World Trade Organisation, arguing that it represents an unfair subsidy. Yet, the US government spends tens of billions of dollars on its agriculture, much of it in programs that directly contribute to low prices and commodity dumping in international markets”, the statement said.

“Under the Biden administration, the US has a powerful opportunity to shift US trade policy to allow other countries to support fair markets for their farmers and shift its own agricultural policy to ensure parity and environmental and racial justice in the US,” it added.

“We are honoured to join the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, Rural Coalition, Grassroots Global Justice, and 83 additional organisations standing in solidarity with the farmers and farm workers in India who have been protesting for 85 days to protect their minimum price guarantees. We have been forced to accept low farm prices and we support their demands for economic parity — fair prices and living wages — to defend their livelihoods, their food sovereignty and the future of their republic,” Jim Goodman, board president of the National Family Farm Coalition.

“The Rural Coalition, which has fought for four decades for the civil and human rights for all producers and farm workers in this nation, sends our strong support and deep respect to the heroic family farmers and farm workers of India as you stand united together to protect the Minimum Support Price (MSP) and stop government policies that destroy the livelihood and future of family farmers, farm workers and rural peoples,” says John Zippert, chair of Rural Coalition. IANS

Parvesh Sharma
Tribune News Service
Sangrur, February 20

The refusal of the Centre to repeal farm laws and violence in New Delhi have failed to dampen the spirit of Mahinder Singh (65), who has been designated as a Sangharshi Yodha by the Punjab Government as he remained in various jails during the Emergency.

Mahinder Singh has been attending the protest at the Tikri border since its start and convincing all against violence.

Was jailed during emergency

Mahinder Singh (65) has been given the title of Sangharshi Yodha by the Punjab Government as he remained in various jails during the Emergency.

“I know that my age does not allow me to sit here in a biting cold. The threat of the pandemic also looms large. But the Centre has compelled me and others to protest. I have remained in various jails in Ambala, Patiala, Nabha and Sangrur for many months during the Emergency in the country for opposing the dictatorial decision of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. I will not leave Tikri until the black laws are repealed,” he said.

When asked whether he sees any difference then and now, he says, “Things have changed a lot as that time, farmers were not united as we are now. After the police arrested me during the Emergency, my family faced many problems to locate me. Though protesters have become powerful these days, the mindset of rulers seems to be same.”

His family owns three acres in Ealwal village and he has two sons and both are married. He also accused the Punjab Government of not giving the complete debt relief to farmers after winning the elections.

“In my life I have never supported violence. We have right to protest here peacefully. We will win this battle too. Since the start of the agitation, I, along with other elders, have been trying to convince youngsters to maintain peace because the government will definitely try to provoke us to weaken our agitation,” he said. He has been staying near pole number 36 at the Tikri border along with residents of Khurana, Khurani and Kalaudi villages.

“We have lost many youngsters and elders, but the government seems unmoved. We must prepare for a long but peaceful protest rather than waiting for a call from the government,” he said.

Peshawar, February 20

The provincial government in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has taken custody of a 19 century gurdwara built during the reign of Sikh ruler Hari Singh Nalwa, to renovate and open it for devotees.

Presently, the Sikh gurdwara in Mansehra district is closed and acts as a makeshift library, officials said.

The provincial Auqaf and Religious Affairs Department has recommended the local government to take up the restoration proposal with the Evacuee Property Trust Board (EPTB) in Lahore.

The EPTB is a statutory board that manages religious properties and shrines of Hindus and Sikhs who had migrated to India following the partition.

Hari Singh Nalwa (1791–1837) was the commander of the Sikh Empire. He is remembered for the battles in Kasur, Sialkot, Attock, Multan, Kashmir, Peshawar and Jamrud. Over 56 buildings, including forts, towers, gurdwaras and tanks, are said to be built under his direct supervision. PTI

Jaipur, February 20

The All India Kisan Sabha will hold several kisan mahapanchayats in Rajasthan next week under the leadership of farmer leaders, including Rakesh Tikait.

The kisan mahapanchayats will be held in the state from February 22 to 26 and the first one will take place in Nohar in Hanumangarh district on February 22, the Kisan Sabha spokesperson said.

Meetings will be held at Sardarshahar (Churu) and Sikar on February 23, Mehendipur Balaji (Dausa) on February 25 and Padampur Mandi (Ganganagar) and Ghadsana Mandi (Ganganagar) on February 26, according to the spokesperson.

Rakesh Tikait, the national spokesperson of the Bharatiya Kisan Union, will also address these mahapanchayats.

“You must also join to support the farmers’ movement and listen to the leaders of the United Front,” the spokesperson said.

All India Kisan Sabha national vice president and former MLA Amra Ram will also address mahapanchayats.

A large number of farmers from Rajasthan are also participating in protest against the agricultural laws of the Centre and are holding a sit-in protest on the Shahjahanpur border near Alwar. — PTI

New Delhi, February 20

The Delhi Police on Saturday released the photographs of 20 people who were allegedly involved in the violence that broke out at the Red Fort on Republic Day during the farmers’ tractor parade, officials said.

Police said they are scanning the videos and releasing the pictures of people from them.

“We have released the pictures and the process of identification (of the people) has been started,” a senior police officer said.

Earlier, police had released 200 photographs of people in connection with the Red Fort violence.

Thousands of protesters had clashed with the police during the tractor parade called by farmer unions on January 26 to highlight their demand for repeal of the Centre’s three farm laws.

Many of the protesters, driving tractors, reached the Red Fort and entered the monument. Some of them even hoisted religious flags on its domes and the flagstaff at the ramparts.

The farmers have been protesting since late November at Delhi’s borders with Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, demanding a rollback of the Centre’s three new agri laws. PTI

Chandigarh, February 20

Haryana BKU chief Gurnam Singh Chaduni on Saturday said food prices will increase like that of fuel if the Centre’s farm laws are implemented in the country.

Describing the farmers’ agitation against the Centre’s laws as a “dharma yudh”, the Haryana Bharatiya Kisan Union chief exhorted all sections of society to be part of the movement.

Chaduni was among several farmer leaders who addressed the first “kisan mahapanchayat” held here. The event was organised by the Naujwan Kisan Ekta.

“We call it (agitation) ‘dharma yudh’. If agri-business laws are implemented, then the country’s foodgrain will go into the godowns of a few people. Then the food prices will go up the way petrol prices are rising now,” said Chaduni, seeking to assert the “adverse” impact of the legislations.

“So, this is not a fight of farmers’ alone and we appeal to all sections of society that they should join this agitation. It is a movement to save the country. It is a ‘dharma yudh’,” said Chaduni.

Chaduni said if the new farm laws were implemented, farmers will no longer remain owners of their land. The next thing which will be seen is companies doing farming on huge chunk of land, he stated.

“If that happens, how will 65 per cent population which is dependent on agriculture survive? So, the question is of our survival, our future. If we lose this battle, then no one can save us from economic slavery,” he asserted.

He accused the Centre of doling out financial relief to corporates and claimed the government could not spare money for relief to farmers in the shape of debt waiver.

The Bharatiya Kisan Union leader said the question is not just of farmers but these three laws will impact cross section of people.

Chaduni asked people not to vote for those who do not stand by farmers today. He asked farmers to stay at the protest sites near the Delhi borders for some days on rotational basis.

Addressing the gathering, Bharti Kisan Union (Ekta Ugrahan) president Joginder Singh Ugrahan slammed the BJP-led Centre for bringing the three “black” laws which are “against” the interest of farmers.

He alleged that these farm laws will “benefit” the corporate sector.

He asked the government to repeal the laws rather than sticking to its stand of putting these on hold for some period.

Farmers from Punjab and Haryana have been camping at the Delhi borders since late November, demanding the repeal of the farm laws and a legal guarantee on the minimum support price for crops. — PTI

Gopeshwar (Uttarakhand), February 20

Three more bodies were recovered from the NTPC’s flood-ravaged Tapovan-Vishnugad hydel project site on Saturday taking the toll in the February 7 glacial disaster in Uttarakhand to 65, officials said.

The bodies were recovered from the desilting tank near the Tapovan project barrage on Saturday, NDRF Commandant P K Tiwari told PTI.

Search operation at the project site has been underway on a war footing for more than 13 days since it bore the brunt of an avalanche triggered by a glacial burst over Rishiganga river in Chamoli district.

The 13.2 MW Rishiganga hydel project was totally demolished in the avalanche while the Tapovan-Vishnugad hydropower project suffered extensive damage.

With the recovery of three more bodies, the toll in the tragedy has gone up to 65 while 139 people are still missing.

Meanwhile, Chamoli District Magistrate Swati S Bhadauria on Saturday asked the NTPC to press into service additional equipment and divert the course of Dhauliganga river to the other side so that its water does not flow through the barrage into Tapovan tunnel hampering sludge clearing efforts.

River water flowing into the tunnel from the barrage has been a major headache for rescuers at the tunnel making the muck clearing operations even more challenging, Bhadauria said.

Deploying additional equipment at the tunnel and diverting the course of the river will speed up the debris removal exercise which has been underway for more than 13 days, the DM said.

She said rescue operations at the main project site in Raini have been completed.

The DM added that the debris on the upper side of Rishiganga is now being scoured for any bodies that could be trapped, if any. — PTI

It has taken China eight long months to admit that four of its soldiers were killed in the Galwan valley clash in eastern Ladakh. Shortly after the barbaric hand-to-hand combat in June 2020, India had reported 20 fatalities, including a commanding officer. China’s prolonged, tactical silence triggered varying estimates of its own death toll: 45 according to Russia’s official news agency TASS, and 35 as per an American intelligence report. That China’s admission comes amid the disengagement in Pangong Tso is no coincidence. On February 10, Beijing had shown unusual alacrity in announcing to the world that mutual troop withdrawal had begun and the nine-month-long border standoff was as good as over. New Delhi had chosen to respond a day later, with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh confirming in Parliament that the pullback had commenced but hastening to add that India had not ceded any territory.

The Chinese army’s claim that it lost only four soldiers may or may not be the whole truth, but the official acknowledgement suggests an inclination — again, unusual for the Dragon — to partly lift the veil of secrecy. So, is this a confidence-building measure aimed at mending ties with India? Considering China’s military and economic expansionism, it could well be a ploy to counter criticism from the international community. The growing clout of the Quad coalition, comprising India, the US, Japan and Australia, is certainly not music to China’s ears. Thursday’s teleconference among the foreign ministers of the member nations was held barely a month after the Biden administration took charge. Quad’s commitment to ‘uphold a rules-based international order underpinned by respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty’ is intended to make China see reason.

Even as the disengagement is reported to have been completed in Pangong Tso area, the 10th round of the Corps Commander-level talks is scheduled to be held today to take forward the pullback process in other areas of eastern Ladakh. India needs to keep asserting itself at the diplomatic and military levels to sustain the gains and be ready for any eventuality in case China’s climbdown proves to be deceptive.