Gurbrinder Aulakh
Auckland, February 1, 2021
Protestors at the Red Fort on January 26, 2021 (EPA Photo)
French Poet and Novelist Victor Hugo had once rightly said: “When dictatorship is a fact, revolution becomes a right.”
Some of the recent developments and incidents in India suggest that the largest democracy in the world appears to be turning into dictatorship. With the four pillars of its democracy crumbling one by one, either by oppression or in servitude, the basic human rights of the common man are being trampled by the mighty and powerful.
The Farm Laws introduced through Ordinances, circumventing the democratic process of debate in the two Houses of Parliament, or consultation with the stakeholders on the ground, are currently the bone of contention between the government and the farming community in India.
Allegations and Responses
While the farmers have been alleging that these laws have been introduced to favour the corporate sector, the government has been asserting that they are for the benefit and betterment of the farmers.
Although some of the agronomists have advocated for the diversification of the farming sector to preserve ground water, others have accused the government of meddling with a State subject, without first providing guidance and incentives to the farmers for a shift towards diversification.
The way the government has handled the situation is a cause of grave concern. On the one hand, the government has been holding rounds of talks and negotiations with the leaders of the protesting farmers, while on the other, there have been dog’s whistles going out to its political cadre to oppose these “anti-national” protestors.
Farmers protesting on the road in Ghazipur near New Delhi (Getty Images)
Salting the wound
At a time when representation in the Defence Force is the highest from the States of Punjab and Haryana compared to all the other states in India, calling the peacefully protesting near and dear ones of these soldiers, as anti-nationals, is rubbing salt on the wounds of all of them. The wounds not only from these ill-conceived laws, but also the wounds of losing their sons and brothers defending the country’s borders.
The Indian Diaspora that came out in support has been labelled as extremist leanings. However, those making such accusations should know that inspiration in support of the farmers has been driven by conscience. As Martin Luther King once said: “There comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular, but he must take it because conscience tells him it is right.”
The Flag Issue
The incident of hoisting of the Flag, with a religious symbol, appears to have been used to rake up hatred and flare up communal tension, in line with the policy of divide and rule.
It has been reported that Red Fort is leased to a private proprietor and that the Flag used was none other than the one used by soldiers when defending the borders and worn by Prime Minister Narendra Modi when he visited the Gurudwara Bangla Sahib (built in 1783) in Connaught Place, New Delhi.
The social media clips under circulation show that the episode at the Red Fort and the subsequent violence was stage-managed by vested interests to derail the peaceful agitation. The farm leaders had no role at all in these events, rather they have been calling for an independent enquiry to unearth the truth and culprits.
The media that tried to expose this plotting, planning and conspiracy are being picked up by the Police and their whereabouts are unknown.
Sikhs hoist ‘Nishan Sahib,’ Sikh Religious Flag at Red Fort on January 26, 2021 (AP Photo)
Unhappy developments
The Prime Minister has been busy speaking out his heart (Mann Ki Baat) and feeding peacocks with his hands, or tweeting about the incidents in the US, rather than listening to the hands that feed the Nation.
The Judiciary has been a mute spectator, more concerned and pre-occupied dealing with the important matters such as tweets against it by a lawyer, rather than safeguarding the human rights of the common man.
Martin Luther King rightly said, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to Justice Everywhere.” Perhaps not only the media around the world, but also each and every person with conscience, will have to show some concern and spine to expose this injustice.
Gurbrinder Aulakh was a lawyer at the Punjab & Haryana High Court. He is now a Barrister & Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand. The views expressed in the above article are his own.
