'These are tractors, not tanks': Indian farmers on the streets until demands are met

Farmers from the Indian states of Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh began marching this month with the slogan 'Delhi Chalo' to get their demands met and are now sit-in on the Shambhu-Haryana border outside New Delhi.

In 2020, farmers protested and demanded the repeal of three laws, namely the Farmers' Production and Trade (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, the Farmers' (Powers and Protection), the Assured Contract Price and Farm Services Act and the Essential Commodities Act. (Arrangement) Act included.

In 2021, the government scrapped these controversial laws, ending the farmers' protests.

Now in February 2024, the farmers are back on the streets to remind the government of the promises made then.

Narendra Singh from Punjab state is among the protesting farmers who are demanding the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to withdraw the new farm laws, and have staged a demonstration in Shambhu outside Delhi. They have camped on the border of Haryana.

Narendra told Independent Urdu: 'Three years ago in 2020 we held a protest against three farm laws and after 15 months the government took a unanimous decision to repeal the laws, but today we are here again for this human struggle. have come against the Bharatiya Janata Party government, which claims that these laws are beneficial to farmers. Despite 15 months of protests and the death of over 750 farmers, it (the government) is trying to implement these laws again.'

Protesting farmers fear that the law will eliminate the minimum support prices they receive from the government and leave them at the mercy of private corporations.

During the recent protests, when protesters tried to march towards Delhi, they faced obstacles. They faced water spray cannons, tear gas shells and pellets, resulting in injuries and the death of a 21-year-old man named Shobhakaran Singh at the hands of the police, the farmers claim.

Narendra Singh added: 'The government claims that Jammu and Kashmir is our head and Punjab is our chest and today it is firing on the chest of the country. This fight is not from any other country, here we stand without any weapons, we only carry sticks. When they need votes during the election, they say we are your dear neta (leader) and when they are done with the election, they say, 'What are you doing in my Angana?'

 Hundreds of tractors and trolleys have occupied at least eight kilometers of the Punjab-Haryana border at Shambhu. Farmers blame the ruling BJP for the issue and are set for a long protest, claiming they have six months worth of food.

Narendra said: 'You can see how many tractors we have, they are spread over seven to eight kilometers and today these tractors are like our tanks. We have food for six months. The government is responsible for this situation. Why we are here on the streets again is all because of the government.'

He explained that farm laws are being imposed to cut the throats of farmers and these laws do not guarantee that they will receive the minimum support price for their crops.

Indian Farmers

Now in February 2024, Indian farmers are back on the streets to remind the government of the promises made then (Najm Saqib/Independent Urdu).

Narendra questioned: 'If India is self-reliant, why is it importing vegetables from outside when we can grow them here, if we are self-reliant, why are we importing things from China? Why is the government behind the farmers, why is it trying to strangle us? When the king of a country said he was going to repeal the laws and now he came up with the same laws in other ways.'

 In 2020, after 15 months of protests, the government again brought in farm laws, forcing farmers to take to the streets again to protest.

Narendra told Independent Urdu: 'Irrespective of caste, religion, we stood in Delhi for 15 months in support of the repeal of the laws and forced the government to repeal the controversial laws, but after three years the government Again it has brought the same laws with different names.'

The Indian government has held four rounds of talks with farmer leaders till February 21, 2024, after which Indian Agriculture Minister Arjun Munda has said in a statement that they are ready for a fifth time to resolve the issues.

Pakistan People's Party has denied the news of Caretaker Prime Minister Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar joining the party and becoming Senate Chairman, while the sources of the Prime Minister's House have also expressed 'surprise' at this news.

The Pakistan People's Party has denied the news on social media that caretaker Prime Minister Anwarul Haq Kakar has joined the PPP and made him Senate Chairman, saying that Yusuf Raza Gilani will be a strong candidate for this post, but the final decision is yet to be made. .

The news of Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar's joining the People's Party is coming out from the sources, according to which he will be made the Chairman Senate later.

The purpose of these premature rumors is not clear, but there are speculations that this signal could be to test the acceptance or reaction of the establishment by the PPP.

However, Pakistan People's Party has denied the reports of Caretaker Prime Minister Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar joining the party and becoming Senate Chairman.

People's Party Information Secretary Faisal Karim Kundi said in a conversation with Independent Urdu on Saturday that 'Our strong candidate for the chairman Senate will be Yusuf Raza Gilani, but the party has yet to take a final decision.'

The sources of the Prime Minister's House also expressed their 'surprise' at the news being aired on this occasion in a conversation with Independent Urdu and said that the speaker and deputy speaker of the National Assembly have to be determined, and half of the Senate has to be elected. After that, the stage of election of the chairman will come.

After the general elections on February 8, 2024, although the political parties have agreed to form a government to some extent, the president has not yet convened a meeting to swear in the newly elected members.

Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar is currently the caretaker prime minister but he is not a member of the Senate. In case of such an agreement, he would first have to be made a member of the upper house.

According to newspaper reports, it was decided to make former prime minister and senior leader of People's Party Yousuf Raza Gilani as Senate chairman before Anwar Haq Kakar, however, after this new decision, Yousuf Gilani will resign from the upper house and take oath of the National Assembly. In this way, another senior leader will be brought in place of Yusuf Gilani in the Senate.

Although this strategy has not been formally announced by the People's Party, but the sources of the Prime Minister's House say in this regard that 'there has been no discussion yet.'

According to political observers, the name of Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar is coming forward to represent Balochistan in the most important federal positions.

In the current political situation, Asif Ali Zardari will be the President from Sindh, Mian Shehbaz Sharif will be the Prime Minister from Punjab, Speaker National Assembly is also likely to be given to Punjab, so we considered a person from Balochistan for Senate Chairman. is going.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa may also be given the post of Deputy Speaker or Chairman, but this situation will be clear in the coming days. For this, the election of half the members of the Senate will be key, after which the field for the chairman will be clear.

These important upper house elections are expected sometime in March. Presidential elections will be held after the Senate elections.

Who is Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar?

Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar is the eighth Caretaker Prime Minister of Pakistan. He belongs to Kan Mehtarzai area of ​​Qila Saifullah district of Balochistan.

After completing his primary education in Quetta, Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar spent some time in Lahore. He later moved to London to pursue a law degree. 

They mainly belong to landed family. Ancient ruins are still present in their area. 

Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar, who started politics in 2008, first contested the national seat in constituency 259 of Quetta City on the ticket of Pakistan Muslim League-Q and lost.

In 2013, he participated in the election again. He was the spokesperson of the Balochistan government in 2013 during the provincial government of Sanaullah Zehri.

Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar also served as the Chairman of the Senate Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development. 

He was also a member of the Senate Business Advisory Committee, Finance and Revenue, Foreign Affairs and Science and Technology.

In 2018, he was elected as an independent senator.

He played an important role in establishing a new party called Balochistan Awami Party (BAP).