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Journalism of Courage
A week, they say, is a long time in politics. The beleaguered Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) might agree.
Till February 10, the Bhagwant Mann-led AAP government was in the news for all the wrong reasons – protests by teachers, by a union of the “unemployed” seeking jobs, as well as by farmers. The arrest of a popular YouTuber last month on an extortion charge, followed by other allegations, and the crackdown on his supporters, had further earned the Mann government public ire.
In the midst of all this, the launch of the Punjab government’s much-vaunted ‘AAP di sarkar, aap de dwar (Your government at your doorstep)’ scheme, to bring selected government services to the masses, sank almost without notice.
On February 6, the same day as the launch of the scheme, the BKU Ugrahan started day-night dharnas outside district administration offices across the state over various demands. Its state chief Joginder Singh Ugrahan announced a series of conferences and said they would march to the CM house in Chandigarh on February 24.
But then began the farmer march towards Delhi on February 13 demanding legalisation of MSP, and the unexpectedly harsh crackdown by the BJP-led Haryana government on them. As the Haryana Police, backed by Central forces, pushed farmers back with multiple levels of barricades, drones dropping teargas shells, lathicharge and rubber pellets, the narrative changed. So did the object of the blame.
Soon, the BKU Ugrahan announced that given what was happening on the Punjab-Haryana borders at Shambhu and Khanauri, it would not hold its planned conferences and was postponing its march to the CM House indefinitely. “Instead, we will be staging dharnas outside houses of BJP leaders, including BJP state president Sunil Jakhar, Amarinder Singh and Kewal Dhillon, in support of the protesting farmers,” the BKU Ugrahan said.
Incidentally, all the BJP leaders who are set to face BKU Ugrahan protests now were formerly in the Congress, and had actively supported the 2020-21 farmer agitation against the three contentious farm laws.
With the Samyukta Kisan Morcha’s national coordination body also now behind the farmers sitting on the borders with Haryana, the heat is off the AAP government.
And there is much that the Mann government has to answer for, according to farm leaders, including “the lack of an agriculture policy”, a year after the CM fixed its launch date as March 2023.
Farmers have also been demanding pending compensation for crops damaged due to floods in July-August 2023, excessive and untimely rainfall in March-April 2022, and the Muktsar water-logging in July 2022.
Separately, sugarcane farmers have been protesting against the AAP government over not paying its share of the state agreed price (or SAP), even as dues remain pending with mills. The promised compensation to families of farmers confirmed to have died of suicide, and action over the supply of spurious seeds are also yet to happen.
Besides, farmers have been demanding quashing of FIRs lodged by the Punjab Police against them, and the heavy environment compensation fines imposed on them, for stubble burning.
The protests by teacher unions over jobs not being provided despite many clearing the eligibility test have been as constant.
On November 1, 2023, the AAP sought to cool matters by planning a “debate”, dubbed ‘Main Punjab Bolda Haan’ and inviting representatives of political parties. But even as no Opposition leader turned up, calling the debate a stunt, the government cracked down on farmer leaders, unemployed and teacher union leaders who wanted to raise questions at the session.
As the Mann government now speaks up for the farmers held back at the Haryana borders, to stop them from reaching Delhi, and the CM himself emerges as a mediator, what is also forgotten is how the AAP has itself treated protesters a number of times.
Apart from the November 2023 incident, in August last year, when the same Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) and SKM (Non-Political) that are behind the current protest had announced a march towards the Governor House, the Punjab government had rounded up their leaders to stop them from coming to Chandigarh.
“Now the Punjab government is extending all support to the farmers as they are protesting against the Centre. At the same time, they are completely silent on their own unfulfilled promises,” says Raman Kumar, president of the Unemployed Joint Front of Punjab.
AAP chief spokesperson Malwinder Singh Kang denied that the Mann government was hoping to “divert attention” from its shortcomings. “In the past two years, CM Mann has interacted with farmer union leaders the most to get to know their demands. I don’t think any other CM has had so many interactions with farmer leaders.”
Listing measures taken by the government, Kang told The Indian Express: “Our state government is doing the best with whatever resources we have. Canal water reach for irrigation has been increased from 30% to 45% of the area in the last two years and we are committed to maximising it… In the present case, all the demands of the protesting farmers are concerning the Centre and what PM Modi himself agreed to two years ago. The CM is also playing a key role as a mediator.”
