The storming of the Red Fort by a group of farmers after nearly 65 days of peaceful protest in the ramparts of Delhi is a blot on the most auspicious day for the country – a day when the Constitution came into being and India became a full- fledged socialist, democratic Republic 72 years ago. Normally Republic Day celebration are staid and predictable and include the usual display of the country’s military prowess and the cultural symbols of every state in the country. But this year also saw the tableau of the Ram Mandir which in itself is a deviation from the cherished principles of ‘secularism’ although this word was coined rather late in the day.
The farmers’ protest might have been well-intended but it did not or could not foresee the subversive strategies of those who wanted to discredit the movement. That a Government that’s not given to backtracking of any law passed thus far, including the contentious CAA would allow a movement to continue after eleven rounds of failed talks is not innocuous. Perhaps there’s more than what meets the eye considering that the leader of the group that stormed the Red Fort – Deep Sidhu was previously seen hobnobbing with Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. Could he have been used to sabotage the farmer’s protest since there seemed no way out of the deadlock? Similar strategies were used against the Shaheen Bagh protestors and many are still languishing in jail. Certainly, these strategies of the deep state belie India’s democratic traditions which allow for all kinds of non-violent protests.
It is undesirable that over one hundred police personnel had to bear the brunt of the violence that erupted on January 26. Whether security was breached or allowed to be breached is still in the domain of guesswork at least for the general public. What is questionable is why Deep Sidhu and others connected with him have not been arrested. Those who watched the events unfolding on TV screens could not believe what they saw. There was a supposed farmer climbing the ramparts of the Red Fort to put up a flag symbolising the Sikh faith.
Meanwhile a flummoxed Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), the coalition of farmer unions leading the agitation has distanced itself from the violence. That was expected since the violence is intended to discredit a purposive movement. But even at this point the country is divided as far as the farmers’ protest is concerned. Some are of the view that the farm laws passed recently are progressive and would allow a free market for the farmers rather than relying on the mandis. Those with a liberal view believe that no laws can be passed without consulting the stakeholders. Also that Agriculture is a state subject and the remit of state governments. This trampling on the state’s power to enact its own laws will erode the federal nature of Indian democracy.