HISTORY MADE IN
CONFERENCE IN BARNALA ON FEBRUARY 21ST. REVOLUTIONARY SPIRIT SIMMERING AT
A CRESCENDO AS NEVER BEFORE WITH A RECORD PARTICIPATION. NEO-FASCISM CHALLENGED
AT A MAGNITUDE AS NEVER BEFORE. SCENE AERIAL VIEW REMINISCENT OF PAINTING
DEPICTING REVOLUTIONARY GLORY IN HEAVENLY PROPORTIONS.
Conference in
Barnala in
-by Harsh Thakor
History was
literally made at Barnala grain market in
The flame of
revolutionary resistance bloomed or crystallized at a crescendo in striking the
tide of Neo-fascism at its chord. The venue resembled an Ocean in full flow
with an impact of an inferno with 2 lakh people thronging
in the venue. A spark virtually turned into a prairie fire. This is arguably one of the most
memorable events ever in revolutionary history. From an aerial view the scene
was reminiscent of a painting exuding the spirit of revolution in heavenly
proportions. It is hard to visualise any event in the world, let alone
I cant
express how privileged I was to witness the spectacle of the participants
pouring in -Like a once in a lifetime experience. One got vibrations of anger
brimming at the very core of the soul of the participants and the red light of
liberation glimmering. I learnt about the immense potential the people had to
emancipate from the clutches of tyranny. The spirit of revolution was written
on their faces depicting the intensity of coal burning. It was a sight to
behold witnessing the participants, particularly the women marching in,
symbolising the spirit of anti-fascist resistance at its deepest
depth. From an aerial view the scene was reminiscent of a painting exuding the
spirit of revolution in heavenly proportions .It is hard to visualise any event
in the world, let alone India, displaying democratic revolutionary spirit at
such a magnitude.
Never in the
The magnitude or
mobilisation could have been greater without the obstruction of traffic jam s
or intervention of police blockades. I could witness thousands of people
encircling the venue.
There could be no better illustration of how the
tide of Neo-fascism of the Narendra Modi led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was
tamed at its very chord. A fitting blow to the malicious anti-people economic
policies of the rulers patronised by Hindutva brigade. There has never been
such a large organised gathering in
The meticulous
and painstaking work of the organizations was reminiscent of spider spinning a
web. For over a week the class organisations toiled through staging village
level conferences and rallies in preparation. It could penetrate all the
toiling sections, weaving a common thread The class -mass approach sowed the
seeds of the success of the Barnala rally. It was the virtual need of the hour
to stage such an event when Corporates were literally strangulating the peasantry
and agricultural labour as well as other toiling sections. The organizers
channelized the energy of the farmers to its optimum. Great emphasis was placed
on differentiating the fascist nature of the BJP. There has never been such a
large organised gathering in
Seven hundred
people volunteered to make the event blossom working meticulously day and
night. They revealed the tenacity of volunteers for an army battalion paving a
path for the soldiers. Given the scale of their event, BKU said it had deputed around
300 volunteers for the smooth movement of vehicles and parking, and 400 more
volunteers for securing the stage and serving water and tea to those attending
the rally.
To me the
conference had great relevance today with Neo-fascism simmering at its boiling
point and tightening the noose or even strangling activists or movements by the
neck. It was symbolic of wedging the gap between the demands of the landed
peasantry and the dalit agricultural labour. There are serious contradictions
between them with caste also a major factor. Still conditions are not ripe for
a sustained agrarian revolutionary movement. Randeep Madoke who made a film on
the dalit labour, praised the contribution of the Ugrahan group in encouraging
the democratic resistance of agricultural labour.
It is of great
regret that other organisations from the revolutionary camp like Kirti Kisan
Union, Bharatiya Kisan Union(Dakaunda) and Krantikari Kisan Morcha boycotted
the gathering, let alone the other organisations of the landless labourers. It
reflects the gross sectarianism within the revolutionary movement. Morally such
organisations belittle the work of the BKU (Ugrahan) rather
than credit them.
Perhaps one
defective trend was the ratio of the dalit agricultural labour to that of the
landed peasantry, whose participation was considerably less. Participation of
Industrial labour, too was insufficient. and possibly even students and
revolutionary intellectuals. Arguably even aspect of agrarian revolutionary
movement wasn't touched upon in adequate depth. The critical aspects of
proto-fascism could also have been delved into more deeply, especially the
incarceration of the ‘Urban Maoists’ also feel the organisations should more
critically analyse the nature of semi-feudalism griping Punjab in terms of its
penetration by imperialism.
I was deeply
touched by an interview of Punjab Khet Mazdor Union secretary, Laxman Singh
Sewewala where he touched upon the miserable plight of the dalit agricultural
labour and how today the fascist agenda of the BJP was stripping them of all
their rights. Even if the numbers were comparably much smaller, a major theme
of the event was on the enslavement of agricultural landless labour by the
corporates.
I was delighted
to see a filmmaker from Mumbai Nishta Jain from Mumbai as well as activists
from West Bengal and
However we must
be ware of any complacency setting in and such an organised movement falling
into the trapping of ruling class parliamentary politics or regionalist
sentiments. It should also integrate more with the anti-fascist movement and
the oppression of the dalits and minorities, to sharpen its revolutionary
democratic character. After all still the dalit agricultural labour has not
sufficiently integrated with the landed Jat peasantry in the democratic
movement. One must not be swayed only but the magnitude of numbers but the
qualitative political impact.
REPORT OF CONFERENCE (sent by Sukhdev Singh Khokri)
To advance the struggle
against the corporate attack on Indian agriculture, B.K.U. (Ugrahan) and Punjab
Khet Majdoor Union organised Kissan-Mazdoor Ekta Maha-Rally in the grain market
of Barnala.
The huge flood of
masses actually made it a Maha-Rally. Along with farmers the huge participation
by farmer and agricultural women was main feature of this rally.
Addressing
the gathering B.K.U (Ugrahan) state president, Joginder Singh Ugrahan said
where there is a need to increase the participation of agricultural labourers and
other categories, in this struggle, at the same time there is need to
strengthen the non-religious character of this struggle and to it protected
from the interference of the opportunist political parties. By aiming the
struggle against, BJP and Corporate nexus, the unity of the farmers of the
country should be strengthened.
Commenting upon the incidents of 26 January, Joginder
Ugrahane said, the Modi government tried to label the farmer struggle as a
struggle of some specific community by using some indifferent forces penetrated
in the farmer struggle and tried to put it under the attack of communal
-nationalism, which is successfully defeated by the people of our country by
the power of their unity. He declared the struggling spirit of toiling people,
against the imperialist multinational companies, as true patriotism. He also
demanded that judicial inquiry should be conducted about the death of Navreet
Singh on26th January, the culprit police officers should be punished and proper
compensation to the family should be provided. He appealed to the farmers
and farm labourers from Punjab to reach the
Addressing the
gathering Sanyukta Kissan Morcha leader, Balbir Singh Rajewal said this is an
historic struggle. To make it successful, the unity should be achieved by
overcoming the differences of caste, religion and regions. He said that the
farmers who are sitting on the borders of
Addressing the
gathering PKMU state president Lachman Singh Sewewala said, the issue of farmer
laws will be a great harm to the employment and livelihood of agricultural
labourers. This attack aimed to end The Public Distribution System is a part of
great imperialist attack on the food security of our country, which has been
advanced under the policies of economic reforms directed by Imperialist
organisations. He said the agricultural labourers greatly responded the
educative campaign held to spread out consciousness against this attack which
has been reflected through their great participation in today's gathering. The
labourers will come out as more strong part of this struggle.
B.K.U. ( Ugrahan)
women wing leader Harinder Bindu said the women greatly contributed this
agitation till now. The agricultural and farmer women are powerful section of
this struggle which is necessary to make it succeed. She demand to release Disha
Ravi and Nodeep Kaur from prison.
State
vice-president Jhanda Singh Jethuke said, this struggle should become a
struggle of all toiling people of
In the rally a
huge number of people belonging to different categories of youth, students,
Workers, servicemen, Democratic activists and other pro-people sections also
participated.
Punjab Kissan
Union leader and part of Sanyukta Kissan morcha, Ruldu Singh Mansa also
addressed the gathering.
In this rally,
the people are appealed to reach in large numbers at
Preparatory Conferences
It is worth
reflecting on the massive preparatory work that sowed the seeds for the fruits
to blossom on February 21st.
The farmers laws
introduced by Modi government will not only become a tool to snatch away the
land of farmers, they will also end the PDS and destroy the employment of
agricultural labourers. Therefore there is a dire need for labourers to adopt
the path of struggle to repeal these laws. These views have been expressed by
Lachman Singh Sewewala, State general secretary of Punjab Khet Majdoor Union,
while addressing a conference of agricultural labourers on Februray 19th at
Lambi, against the farmer laws, oppression of Dalits and the fascist attacks on
the farmers. He appealed to the agricultural labourers that they should
participate along with their families in the Kissan- Majdoor Ekta Rally going
to held by B.K.U. ( Ugrahan) and PKMU, on 21st February 2021. He said before
snatching away the land of farmers, the corporate houses will snatch the
Panchayati, Shamlat and government lands and the issues of agricultural
labourers, like share third- part share in contractual panchyati land or
residential plots of five marlas , will be rolled out. He said,Modi government
is pursuing its agenda to build Hindu Rashtra, and its base is Mannu Simariti,
due to thise the casteist oppression of dalits is increased after BJP's coming
in to power. He told with the reference of National Crime Bureau statistics,
that in contrast to 2015, there is 19% increase in the attacks on dalits in
2019. Denouncing the statement of Modi, labeling farmers as Andolan- jivi and
registration of police cases against the farmers under severe sections like
sedition , he said, in reality Modi government is itself a traitor which is
surrendering, the food security of the country before the corporate houses to
fullfill the interests of the imperialists and playing divisive politics
against the masses. The RMP doctors participated in large numbers in this
conference along with great number of labourer women. District president
Gurjant Singh Saaoke said addressing the gathering that Electricity bill 2020,
introduced by Modi government is a huge step towards the privatisation of
electricity and which will oust electricity service from the reach of labourers
by ending the facilities like low-cost electricity and subsidy of 200 units.
District general secretary Tarsem Singh Khunde Halal said that Modi government
is going to create complete monopoly of the corporates and imperialist on the
complete food production of the country, which will create the complications
like famine and hunger which will effect the agricultural labourers and urban
poor. District committee member Kala Singh Khunan Khurd alleged that Modi
government is betraying with the people of the country by surrendering all the
natural resources before the imperialists. Women labourer leader Gurmail Kaur
and Krishna Devi criticised the increasing events of atrocities against the
dalits with make special reference of Nodeep Kaur's arrest and torture by the
police. They demanded release of Nodeep Kaur and Disha Ravi.
Labourer leader
Kala Singh Singhewala, Baaz Singj Bhutiwala, Kaka Singh Khunde Halal and Raja
Singh Khunan Khurad also addressed today's gathering along with Medical
Practitioners leader Manjinder Singh Sran, Dr. Bachittar Singh, electricity
workers leader Amarjit Pal Sharma, B.K.U (Ugrahan) leader Bhupinder Singh
Channu, Harbans Singh Kotli and pensioners leader Dilawar Singh, contractual
lworkers leader Karamjit Singh, Sports School workers leader Gagandeep Chazzli.
Paramjit Singh
Kheowali and Jagsir Singh Jeeda presented revolutionary songs and Chandigarh
School of Drama presented a stage play.
At resolution has
been passed by whole gathering to release labourer leader Nodeep Kaur Gandhar
and environment activist Disha Ravi.
Bharti Kisan
Union (Ekta Ugrahan) s completed preparations to jam trains at 20 places in 15
districts on the invitation of United Kisan Morcha and on February 21 In
partnership with Punjab Farm Labor Union, the labour farmer unity grand rally
is underway in Barnala, which will be included by the leaders of the United
Kisan Morcha. Giving this information, General Secretary of the organization
Sukhdev Singh Kokri Kalan told that Nabha in Patiala district; Sunam in
Sangrur; Mansa special; Khudi Khurd in Barnala; Rampura in Bathinda, Mor Mandi,
Sangat and Goniana; Kotkapura in Faridkot; Giddarbaha in Muktsar; Abohar and
Jalalabad in Fazilka; Ferozepur Khas; Ajitwal in Moga; Ludhiana Khas and
Doraha; Shahkot in Jalandhar, Tarn Taran Khas, Amritsar and Gurdaspur at
Fatehgarh Bangles and Qadian from 12 to 4 Railroad will be jammed by o'clock.
Cancel electricity amendment bill 2020 and Parali ordinance including three
black agriculture laws during jam; Beneficiaries of all crops MSP should
guarantee complete procurement on mithan; Farmers sticking to Delhi fronts in
addition to implementing public distribution system to all poor And the farmer
leaders will be emphasized on the demands of returning tractors to the
detainees by cancelling the false traitor case. In addition to these demands
during the Barnala Maha Rally, the pot of the farmer-enemy hanging character of
the Modi BJP government will be shattered at the crossroads. Special emphasis
will be given on the importance of solidarity of laborers and farmers. Under
the comprehensive preparations of this great rally, education meetings of
Sangrur, Patiala, Fatehgarh Sahib, Barnala, Bathinda, Muktsar, Faridkot,
Fazilka, Ferozpur, Moga, Ludhiana, Jalandhar etc. have been held till date and
in the coming days Districts will also be done. Along with that, flag march,
hoka march are also being conducted at village / area level meetings rallies.
Colorful hand posters about demands are being distributed in every house by
printing in one lakh. Hundreds of volunteers have been involved in the
arrangements of sitting and sound, including tea and water of more than two
lakh people. Meanwhile, huge protests will continue at 42 places in
Conference was
held by Punjab Khet Labour Union on February 18th in
village Bhotna of the district. Addressing the laborers attending the conference,
provincial president Zora Singh Nasrali said that farmers laborers and all the
institutions under their beating need to unite to revoke the black laws.
He appealed that
Modi government to join farm laborers in the ongoing struggle against
agriculture law, uplift secularism policy to advance the farmer s' struggle,
defeat communal movements and jailed Families should be participated in the
Labour-Farmer Unity Maharali in Barnala to show the truth about the deadly
effects of black laws on laborers, farmers, including the release of farmers.
On this occasion, labour leaders Sukhdev Singh Bhotna, Nikka Singh Sandhu
Kalan, Amritpal Singh, Avtar Singh, Harjinder Singh, Satnam Singh and leaders
of the Indian Farmer Union Ekta Ugraha Gurnam Singh Bhotna addressed.
RESOLUTIONS PASSED
Our struggle has
become a wall in front of Modi government which wants to loot our agricultural
corporations.
No one is going
to stand in front of the strong unity of Modi government who wants to crush it.
January 26 was a
crucial turnaround when the government found a way to execute these impure
schemes.
Through the Red
Fort events, the government wanted to portray our struggle as a religious
conflict that was not for farmer s' demands as if it was a political objective.
Thus our struggle
was conspired to separate from the alliance of farmers of other states and
bring it under the realm of communal fascism.
Since the
beginning of the struggle, they had made their existence through different
demands and different platforms.
Apart from
conflict, these communal forces played in the hands of the government and gave
it an excuse to attack our struggle.
The wrong act of
hoisting religious flag on Red Fort gave the government an opportunity to give
communal agreement to our struggle.
Along with the
Modi government, these communal forces are also guilty of underestimating our
struggle.
We unanimously
declare from today's rally that this struggle is a secular conflict. We respect
all religions but are determined to protect the secularism of struggle. We will
not allow any communal force to infiltrate it. We will put a pause on all the
efforts. I've been blown away.
We will not allow
political parties to join the conflict - and we will not allow it into the
hands of any narrow political motives.
We recognize the
false patriotism of BJP government. This so called patriotism is for serving
corporates.
We are determined
to expose it and we consider true patriotism and elevate the struggle against
the robbery of imperialism. Keeping on the edge of guided conflict against BJP
and corporate alliance, we take all working class, especially urban and rural
areas. The poor, with us. I am determined to move forward in this struggle.
Harsh Thakor is a freelance journalist who has toured
Frontier Weekly, on such topics as Maoism, mass line, International Communist Movement and revolutionary
struggles.
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