Haryana Farmers Fight Govt ‘Arrogance’ with Mahapanchayats, Pay Tribute to Sir Chhotu Ram

Dressed in white kurta, dhoti, pagdi, and carrying a plough on his shoulder, Dr Paramjit travelled about 40 kilometres on foot, accompanied by a child who is his nephew from Rohtak to reach Sir Chhotu Ram Memorial in Haryana’s Sampla. He undertook the strenuous journey to attend the ‘mahapanchayat’ called by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha -- a collective of farmers’ unions. Paramjit said that he travelled through villages and narrow alleys in towns to raise awareness about the implications of the three recently enacted farm laws.

Paramjit, a physiotherapist by profession, told NewsClick that ignorance and arrogance, on part of the central government, were only enraging the farmers and pushing them to show their strength in the large assemblies called ‘mahapanchayats’, which are now being organised every other day across Haryana.

“The government is behaving as if the country is now a property of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party. One day they call you names, another day you are branded as terrorists. And they are conveniently forgetting that their own party came into power through a movement, a mode of protest, which they now despise, he said. He also condemned Haryana Agriculture Minister J P Dalal’s recent statement, in which the BJP leader said that the farmers, who died during the agitation, would have met the same fate at their homes too. Responding to the question if he sensed restlessness in the ruling BJP even though it is reluctant in repealing the laws, he said, “Of course there is restlessness. They cannot do their public meetings in Haryana now. The party is asking its cadres to limit their movement. It is another matter that they are testing our patience now.”

Amidst the vociferous opposition to the laws, the assembly of about ten thousand farmers, remembering Jat reformer Chaudhari Chhotu Ram on his birthday, showed the changing dynamics on the ground regarding participation and discussion revolving around the policies. The site is now full of women participants from neighbouring villages who have their own reasons to be part of the historic movement. Suman, who came from Rohad, told NewsClick, “We are remembering Chhotu Ram because his legacy is being snatched from us. The struggle today is not only for saving the land from corporates but also ensuring fair prices of produce for farmers, both rights which were given to us during his time.”

Chaudhary Chhotu Ram, who was a prominent lawyer, journalist and administrator, is revered among the farmers of Haryana and Punjab for the pro-peasant reforms he introduced in the pre-Independence India. Among the notable interventions, Ram introduced Punjab Relief of Indebtedness Act, 1938, which gave relief to farmers from paying the loans if he has paid the interest amount twice. It also banned the auction of milch animals if the farmers were not able to pay the loaned amount. However, the biggest reform came in the form of Punjab Restitution of Mortgaged Lands Act, 1938, which mandated the return of impounded properties by the moneylenders prior to June 8, 1901, to farmers. He is also credited with bringing the law for establishment of agriculture produce markets that freed the farmers from clutches of middlemen and ensured better rates for produce.

Furthering her argument, Suman said, “The government is increasing the price of items, which should be reduced. The price of diesel is increasing day by day. The LPG cylinder’s price too has gone up by Rs 50. Then, why do they not increase the prices of our crop? We are sitting here because he [the prime minister] compelled us to hit the roads. So, it is only the PM who would repeal the laws. Sooner he understands it, better it is for him and us.”

Sitting beside Suman, Mukesh Devi too complains about the government apathy towards farmers who fed the country during the pandemic. “No one dared to step out of home when the coronavirus was raging. It is us who produced the food. It is close to three months and 200 farmers have died during the agitation. Is this how he is planning to double our income?” she asked.

When asked if they discuss politics at home and the changes the struggle brought in their lives, Suman said, “Obviously, we discuss politics. It is no longer the prerogative of men. We mutually decided that we would vote BJP because the party promised what we have been demanding for long i.e. prices of crops as recommended by the Swaminathan Commission. The only change I feel is that we are sitting on roads instead of our homes.”

However, a group of young boys, sitting behind the main stage, believe the struggle is also shaping anti-casteism politics in the state. One of them said, “Celebrating Chhotu Ram also means renewed commitment to fight casteism. Brahminism, as practised by those with vested interests and those who made it impossible for people to know about Ram who dedicated his life to these causes. Despite wide-ranging reforms, he is invisible in our school curriculum. But bonds between communities are being revived now. For example, this assembly was organised by the Ahlawat Khap but the support came from all sections of the society.”

However, everyone in the assembly was keen to listen to Rakesh Tikait, the show-stopper for rallies now. Tikait, in his usual wit, said that the ignorance regarding farming not only persists in ruling parties but the bureaucracy too. He said, “I was member in one of the committees of the central government for determining the fair prices of crops and attended 22 meetings. The officers kept repeating that the farmers should be compensated for 165 days because they used ox only for seasons. I asked if the ox did not eat anything for the rest of the year. This is their level of ignorance.” Tikait, throughout his speech, remained defiant and said, “The mahapanchayats will happen across the country. We are seeing unprecedented unity of farmers. It began from Punjab but Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan are all one in this fight no matter what. My humble request is to keep up the momentum. Remember, it is these mahapanchayats which will decide the fate of the country’s farmers.”