India is going through a major shift in its agriculture economy as 3 new Farm laws being rolled out during Covid 19 period. These laws have been rushed through the parliament with a voice vote (Mainly used under Emergency powers) in senate (Rajya Sabha), Shows the absolute desperation of the Modi Government. Modi Government is claiming and propagating these laws as the farmers life changing in terms of there Income and its been claimed widely by PM Modi himself that these laws will double the income of every farmer of the country.
First thing first, a term is to be decided to be given to what farmers in India (especially from Panjab) are doing these days in Delhi, the capital region of India. 'War' or 'Fight' suits the best but we'll continue with 'Struggle' as we still think ‘them’ (Delhi rulers) to be ours and 'war' will be too harsh for it. They are using age expired tear gas apparatus and water cannons in this chilling time on their own people representing themselves for their legitimate rights peacefully. Even when they are preparing stadiums and open grounds into prisons so it is more or less a war like situation.
Weeks of protests by farmers from Punjab and Haryana intensified against three controversial farming laws which abolish Minimum Support Pricing (MSP) for farmers, led to a call for protestors to make their way to the national capital Delhi. On the 8th of December the protests had spread with farmers across India leading a country wide strike and shut down (band). Many of these poor and marginalised farmers, battled against the onset of winter amidst a world-wide pandemic travelling the 500km by foot, on tractors, scooters and other vehicles.
The central government may, by hook or crook, ride out the current Punjab-based farmers’ agitation. But the underlying logic of the situation can sow the seeds of a long-term crisis. The existential stakes in this agitation for both the farmers and the government are high; but the possibility of a good faith material resolution of the problem is low. This has the makings of a perfect storm.
The current decade has seen one of the most drastic changes in the arena of politics, global trade (Capitalism) and international affairs. We have witnessed unprecedented rise in right wing politics across Europe, Latin America, North America and in the Indian Subcontinent. These political changes are followed with multiple business and trade alliances be it Belt & Road Initiative (BRI) and China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) by China, or Trans-Pacific Free Trade agreement led by USA (though the US under Trump pulled itself out but new Biden administration is expected to rejoin this).
This was the first election since 1992 when an incumbent president failed to win re-election for a second term. With over 75 million votes, Biden received the most votes ever cast for a presidential candidate, beating Barack Obama’s record of 69.5 million votes from 2008.
In true Sikh tradition, prior to embracing the gallows , ‘Jo Bole So Nihal!’ was chanted recalls Tihar jailer Sunil Gupta in his book Black Warrant, co-authored with senior journalist Sunetra Chaudhury, which details the final minutes of the duo accused in the Indira Gandhi assassination case.
With India’s paramilitary in Amritsar for the 32nd anniversary of Indian Army's attack on Darbar Sahib and other Sikh Gurdwaras, survivors 200 km away challenge the prevailing narrative.
Guru Gobind Singh Ji's 52 Hukams issued at Nanded Sahib (commands) included “Sutantar Vicharna” (staying independent). Renowned Sikh scholar Sirdar Kapur Singh has explained “Sutantar Vicharna” in terms of the peculiar “Sikh Doctrine of Double Sovereignty”.
When Senator Klobachar ‘stepped out’ of consideration for Vice President of the United States (given how she also played a role in not holding police accountable as a District Attorney), she mentioned that she wanted to see a woman of color become Vice President. Probably in a nod to California Senator Kamala Harris,
Presumptive Democratic Party nominee for the upcoming US elections, Joe Biden, in a tweet on 6 August paid homage to Sikh worshippers, who while praying at a Gurudwara (Sikh temple) in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, eight years ago, were killed by a white supremacist.
This writing summarizes the views of Vandana Shiva that she has expressed in her book Staying Alive. It is a well written book on the basic issue of ecology. A beginner can learn a lot from this book about the actual situation of soil, water, green revolution etc. It also highlights some aspects of agriculture which can astonish a common reader easilyIn the book, Vandana Shiva tries to explore the relationship of nature/Women and developments/Science.
Recent interventions from noteworthy international voices have given Hindutva’s fanatical protagonists a timely reminder that, despite their domination of the political and security apparatus in India, they are bound by international standards that override their domestic hegemony.
When coronavirus looming large, fifty big businessmen- wilful defaulters—got their Bank loans of Re 68607 crores written off. The indifference shown to distress faced by lakhs of trapped workers in urban areas has exposed the BJP rulers of their real character and style of their “democratic governance”.
Still Sikhs hope against hope that SGPC should not have honored P.S Umranagal, a police officer in Golden Temple complex who is known to have involved in fake-encounters and the Bargari beadbi.
Coronavirus like all other crises in past exposes that Indian democracy is being run by self-centered bureaucracy with police/security forces enjoying near holy status.
Today we salute Giani Ditt Singh on his birth anniversary. He fought against Brahmanical onslaught in the 19th century which attempted to convert Sikhism into a sect of Pan-Hinduism.
A usual glorification of the army goes like this: that standing on night duty at borders soldiers protests the Indians sleeping cozily at their homes.
For the British colonials natives were subjects (gulaams not citizens). That is why the British never trusted natives and never took them into confidence in any decision during 200-year rule.
This is in response to the write-up in 'The Tribune' by K N Pandita on CAA with reference to the horrific terror strike at a historic Gurdwara- Guru’s place- in Afghanistan, killing 25 innocent Sikh worshippers. The author seems to justify the controversial citizenship amendment legislation in the context of this attack.
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