Nothing could give us a greater pleasure than to present an edition with great reading. Here we are with Vaisakhi special edition which is dedicated to farmers in India who are protesting against the Farm Laws enacted by Modi government in June 2020 and demanding their repeal.

What is the issue? Well, it is a question of perception. The government claims the laws will protect the interests of the farmers, helping them to double their income, and also getting freedom from an exploitative system.

The farmers, on the other hand, see in the laws, an attempt to ultimately render them landless, turn them into laborers for the big businesses, and impoverish them.

Both sides have lined up economists and agricultural experts to support their claims. Government of India, with its vast resources to reach out to people have taken no chances in trying to convince Indians and the world of the utility of the enacted laws. The Indian media, believed to be pro-Modi, has been at pains to explain the laws to people. Indian missions abroad have been doing the same. They were tasked with reaching out to lawmakers in countries like the US, the UK and Canada, which have sizeable population of Indians, to reach out to lawmakers to convince them that the laws were in favor of the farmers, and that the protest of the farmers was unwarranted. They did it to prevent these lawmakersfrom taking up the cause of the farmers. But, in the process, it helped internationalize the issue, which has assumed enormous proportions now, being viewed as a movement to save democracy. Several lawmakers in the US, the UK, and Canada have expressed their concern at the violation of basic human rights of farmers in India.

Here are two such letters.

We are carrying in this edition a few articles by eminent and well-informed people which analyze the various aspects of the issue. We hope, readers will have a clearer view of the laws and the protest, which, in fact, probably no side wants.

However, we cannot but express concern at the apathy of the Indian government to the bread givers of the nation. Without going into the facts and the figures here, which readers will find in plenty in the articles in this edition, it would do well to remind ourselves that a democratic government is for the people. And, here we are, stonewalled by a government which does not believe in listening to people. Farmers have been protesting against the government’s farm laws for around 10 months now, first, in their states, and, for the last around five months at Delhi borders, in Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, in inclement weathers and the severe cold winter season, during which more than 350 persons lost their lives.

The government barricaded the protest area at Singhu border, which restricted free movement of people and stopped movement of vehicles; hindered supplies of essential articles, cut off internet, water and electricity supply, and even allowed BJP cadres to attack the protesters in the makeshift camps. On top of it, the goons who attacked were never apprehended; rather, the victims were charged with criminal assault. Videos and photographs available reveal the true story, as against the narrative of the government and the authorities. What an abdication of government duty to protect people and do justice!

Well, all this happens in a conflict. But the question is: Is demanding justice a conflict with the elected, chosen government? Is asking for ones’ rights sedition?

No, my friends, we ought to respect the common man who, in fact, is the MASTER. A government is there to serve people who have elected them. People have chosen them to work for them, according to the Constitution. Because billions cannot be directly governing, the concept of democracy has a few chosen by billions managing the affairs of the nation for the good of the people.

We believe, Mr. Modi will find time from the unending election campaigns, to consider thereal vital issue of saving the country’s economy, agriculture, and the future of the farmers, and above all, ensuring the human rights of the people are not trampled underfoot.

There will be no better Vaisakhi gift for all Indians and friends of India than a resolution of the contentious issue, NOW.

 Happy Vaisakhi!!