Time to open dialogue by Modi government with Punjab farmers at political level and avoid confrontation

 Centre’s confrontation with Punjab can revive critical narrative of step-motherly treatment

Jagtar Singh

Ground Zero

 

The Centre is on the path of confrontation with Punjab and the political dynamics of this state is different from all other regions in the country.

All the main rail tracks have been cleared by the agitating farmers but for one dharna at Jandiala Guru on the Jalandhar-Amritsar mainline. However, other line to Amritsar is all clear and traffic can be diverted from Beas. The other two dharnas are on feeder lines leading from main tracks to the coal based private thermal plants and hence in no way affect the movement of trains.

However, the rail traffic  to Punjab continues to be suspended by the Railways saying the situation is not conducive in the state due to farmers agitation.

The farmers had blocked rail tracks as part of the agitation against the three Acts adopted by the Narendra Modi government that it propagates as pro-farmers. However, the farmers apprehend that these legislations would threaten their very livelihood. Punjab is witnessing the most intense agitation as this food bowl of India is going to be the worst affected, at least this is the apprehension.

The agitation is the normal form of protest and the people in the country have this right and the same cannot be denied in a democratic set up.

However, the strategy and tactics adopted by the Centre signal confrontation not with the agitating farmers only but with the state as such that has serious dimensions.

Jammu and Kashmir reduced to union territory is connected to the rest of India through Punjab and that is the region that is known to be the most garrisoned in the world at present. Punjab has been ‘normal’ after about a decade and a half of turbulence that took about 40,000 lives and that struggle is still to witness closure. Even both centre and the state government continue to maintain that the threat of revival of militancy is there with Pakistan being the catalyst.

Already, the view is getting rooted among the people that the ultimate solution is the state autonomy under federal structure. This very demand articulated in the Anandpur Sahib Resolution was at the heart of the struggle, both peaceful and militant, till the army attack in June 1984 on Darbar Sahib (Golden Temple) complex code-named Operation Bluestar.

Badly hurt by this avoidable attack, the Sikh psyche avenged this action with the killing of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

Punjab militant struggle is the only struggle in India that has taken the life of a prime minister, a chief minister (Beant Singh) and a retired army chief (General A. S. Vaidya who commanded the army in June 1984).

Not that the farmers can turn violent.

The Akali agitation launched under the banner of Dharam Yudh Morcha was peaceful but this was the agitation that provided democratic platform to Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale. He never raised the demand for Khalistan but used to maintain that “It is for the Centre to decide whether the Sikhs are to be kept with the country or not”.

The present confrontation has the potential to trigger alienation of the people in Punjab again and Punjab is the border state.

The Modi government so far has made it clear that there won’t be going back on the issue. This is further fuelling the agitation.

The centre should differentiate between the agitating farmers and the stand taken by the Congress ruled states.

The problem is that the BJP leaders are attacking the farmers in Punjab as Naxals and puppets in the hands of the Congress.

The centre should open the dialogue with the farmers at the political level to save the situation from getting aggravated.

The history of Punjab should not be overlooked. These very people launched the struggle in 1907 known as ‘Pagri Sambhal Jatta’, then the Ghadr Party, the Babbar Akalis and so on till 1940 revolt by the soldiers in the British Indian army at several places. Sections from these very people were part of the militant struggle commanded by Sant Bhindranwale whose memorial is in the Golden Temple complex.

Punjab represents a continuing narrative.

Time to open dialogue with the farmers.