I found these photos in the internet news sites of Indian Express, Times of india and The Hindustan Times showing the protest of farmers, to press the government of India to withdraw 3 Bills passed recently in the parliament, which according to the farmers are harmful to their interests and future.
I use these pictures with acknowledgement of the source only to illustrate a point! I hope I do not violate any copy right rules!
Some reports suggest that there might be 3 hundred thousand people living in the open in the highways in the outskirts of Delhi exposed to the hazards of winter, COVID, extremely restrained living conditions. This is the eleventh day of the protest. Although negotiations are taking place between the farmer's unions and the government, the end is not in sight.
I feel the pain of the farmers and their desperation. It is after few months of waiting to get a sympathetic response from the government, the farmers took to streets.
The government is in a tight spot. It advocates some advantages fo the bills for the farmers in the long run. The state governments were not actively involved in preparing the legislation although agriculture is also a state subject.
I wonder whether this is good for democracy. An unsympathetic government and an insistent protesters! It is a confrontational approach. It damages both parties in the long run.
Where are the negotiators and intermediaries!
Are there not a few distinguished people who would offer to negotiate on this matter! Is it not terrible for 3 hundred thousands to suffer heat during the day and the low temperature at night and be in the open sky!
Why is not the Supreme Court referring to it as a humanitarian issue and advice the farmers and the government!
It is not stubbornness that would take us forward in such situations but human brotherhood! Cannot the government find a way to diffuse the tension or are they bound by a political strategy, no matter how the farmers feel or suffer! Are the farmers using this to bend the government to its dictates! Let me suggest that both are going to be losers if they cannot find a middle path.
I wish this strife and tension would cease. The global leaders such as the Canadian prime Minister, some members of the British Parliament and the United Nations have expressed concern!
I was looking at the editorials of the national newspapers to see if they come out with some suggestions to diffuse this dispute.
In a civil society, the distinguished citizens intervene when the government is facing a crisis, to help the disputing parties to be take a fair and just approach.
I find that the ethos of democracy, ethics of protests and discipline of civil behaviour are under suspect at this time!
I agonise over this. I cannot recall a similar protest of this nature in the recent times and a weak determination by the government to resolve this in an emergency mode!
M.C.Mathew (text and photo)
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