Saturday, November 27, 2021

366th day of Farmers' protest

Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) held a meeting as planned earlier at Singhu Morcha on the 366th day, of the farmers' protest. SKM took cognizance of the lack of response from the Prime Minister in reference to its letter dated November 21st, 2021, and called upon the Government to restart the dialogue process, and discuss the still pending issues. 

The Morcha has condemned the Government's attempts to bypass bilateral discussions, and sidestep crucial issues. "In a democracy, it is the duty of the elected government to consult the protesting farmers and resolve the disputes amicably”, said SKM. 

After the Prime Minister's announcement regarding the repeal of the three farm laws, and the Cabinet clearing the same, the Morcha has suspended its Tractor March program scheduled from November 29th, for the while. Samyukta Kisan Morcha reiterated its six demands, raised in the letter to the Prime Minister, vis-a-vis legal guarantee of MSP for all produce based on C2+50, formula, withdrawal of draft "Electricity Amendment Bill, 202012021", removal of the penal provisions on farmers in the "Commission for Air Quality Management in the National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas Act 2021”, withdrawal of false cases against the farmers over the course of the movement, dismissal and arrest of Minister of State Ajay Mishra Teni, and compensation and rehabilitation to the families of the martyrs of the farm movement and allocation of land to build a memorial in their memory at Singhu morcha. 

SKM has demanded that the Government restart the dialogue process without further delay to discuss these pending issues. In the next meet of the SKM scheduled for December 4th, the Morcha will take cognizance of further developments including the Parliament proceedings, and take a decision on the further course of action. 

A massive Kisan-Mazdoor Mahapanchayat will be held at Azad Maidan, Mumbai on 28 November. The event to be hosted by over 100 organizations under the banner of Samyukta Shetkari Kamgar Morcha (SSKM) will be addressed by several prominent SKM leaders. The Mahapanchayat will witness a massive gathering of farmers and workers from across Maharashtra and will raise the demands of the farm movement including the legal guarantee for MSP, dismissal and arrest of Minister of State Ajay Mishra Teni, withdrawal of Electricity Amendment Bill, removal of penal provisions from Air Quality Management Act among others, along with the repeal of the four Labour Codes, halving the price of diesel, petrol and cooking gas, and an end to privatization of national resources. November 28th also marks the death anniversary of great reformer Mahatma Jyotirao Phule. The Mahapanchayat is a culmination of over month long programs which began with the flagging off of the Shaheed Kalash Yatras on October 27 from the birth place of Mahatma Phule in Pune. The Shaheed Kalash Yatras were taken across every district of Maharashtra, and spread the message of the farm movement, while seeking justice in the Lakhimpur Kheri massacre. Today, all these yatras reached Mumbai and paid homage to the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji at Shivaji Park, the memorial to Dr B R Ambedkar at Chaitya Bhoomi, the memorial to Martyr Babu Genu who was crushed in Mumbai in 1930 by a British-driven truck when he opposed British cloth during the freedom struggle, and the statue of Mahatma Gandhi near Mantralaya. 

Meanwhile, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food, Michael Fakhri, welcomed the Government of India's decision to repeal the three farm laws and urged the Government to ensure accountability for the casualties of the farm movement. On November 12th, 2021, Mr. Farkhri had written a letter to the Government of India expressing his concerns regarding the three farm laws, saying, "These laws may interfere with the full enjoyment of the right to food of India's farmers, especially women as constituting the majority of small scale farmers in the country and all inter-related human rights.". 

More reports are pouring from various states of India and different nations about the events held in the support of the farm movement on 26 November. Protest programs were held in several districts of Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh and Assam. In Tamil Nadu, notwithstanding the bad weather and heavy rainfall, protests were held in several locations including Chennai and Dindigul. In UK, protests were organized in the front of Indian High Commission, in the US, a "sleep out.' program was held in British Columbia, and solidarity programs were also held in Italy and France. India's Farm Movement has, in the truest sense, become a global and a historic phenomenon, and has become a beacon of hope for people's movements worldwide. 

'Issued by Balbir Singh Rajewal, Dr Darshan Pal, Gurnam Singh Charuni, Hannan Mollah, Jagjit Singh Dallewal, Joginder Singh Ugrahan, Shivkumar Sharma 'Kakkaji., Yudhvir Singh, Yogendra Yadav 

P.S.:Protests were also held in Bihar on the 365th day of the farmers struggle on Delhi's borders. In Patna, farmer organisations submitted a memorandum for the President with seven demands: 

1. Repeal three farm laws and enact law for mandatory MSP, 

2. Withdraw Electricity Amendment Bill, 

3. Repeal four labour codes, 

4. Bring back Bihar APMC law, 

5. Sack Ajay Mishra Teni and punish the culprits of Lakhimpur-Khiri massacre

6. Construct memorial of 700 farmers and  

7. Withdraw fake cases against farmers


Thursday, November 25, 2021

राष्ट्रीय किसान आयोग' के गठन की प्रक्रिया की घोषणा

आज नेशन फॉर फार्मर्स (एनएफएफ)-किसानों के लिए राष्ट्र -मंच और अन्य सहयोगी मंच और संगठनों ने कृषि की स्थिति का आकलन करने और रिपोर्ट करने के लिए 'किसान आयोग' के गठन की प्रक्रिया की घोषणा किया। भारत में कृषि आबादी के विभिन्न वर्गों को आय प्रदान करने वाले कृषि और संबद्ध क्षेत्रों के सभी विभिन्न राज्यों और क्षेत्रों के किसानों के सामने आने वाली चुनौतियों के रूप में किसान आयोग विभिन्न प्रकार के संगठनों के सहयोग से देश के कोने-कोने में खेती की सार्वजनिक जांच की प्रक्रिया आयोजित करेगा।  

किसान आयोग क्यों? क्योंकि सरकार द्वारा गठित आयोग की सिफारिशें किसानों के हितों के विपरीत होती हैं या सरकारी तौर पर स्थापित आयोगों की सिफारिशें को दफन कर दिया जाता है। राष्ट्रीय किसान आयोग,की अध्यक्षता प्रख्यात कृषि वैज्ञानिक डॉ. एम.एस. स्वामीनाथन को इस भाग्य का सामना करना पड़ा। आयोग की महत्वपूर्ण सिफारिशें देश में हर जगह किसानों के बीच बेहद लोकप्रिय हैं। उनमें से कुछ - विशेष रूप से फसलों के लिए न्यूनतम समर्थन मूल्य तैयार करने से संबंधित - किसानों को राज्यों में वापस लाने के लिए तुरंत संबोधित किया जाना बाकी है। स्वामीनाथन आयोग को अपनी पांच में से पहली रिपोर्ट सरकार को सौंपे 16 साल हो चुके हैं। हालांकि संसद में विशेष चर्चा के लिए बार-बार फोन किया गया, लेकिन यूपीए और एनडीए दोनों ने संसद में रिपोर्ट की सिफारिशों पर बहस के लिए न्यूनतम समय भी देने से इनकार कर दिया। अब सालों से, किसानों के लिए राष्ट्र मंच सरकार से चल रहे कृषि संकट के संदर्भ में रिपोर्ट और संबंधित मुद्दों पर चर्चा करने के लिए संसद का एक विशेष सत्र आयोजित करने का आह्वान कर रहा है

स्वामीनाथन आयोग की पहली रिपोर्ट दिसंबर 2004 में और आखिरी अक्टूबर 2006 में प्रस्तुत की गई थी। इस देश के स्वतंत्र इतिहास में कृषि पर सबसे महत्वपूर्ण रिपोर्ट पर चर्चा करने में संसद द्वारा एक दिन भी खर्च नहीं किया गया था। और अब 16 साल बीत चुके हैं, नए और दबाव वाले मुद्दों को पहले के मौजूदा मुद्दों के साथ जोड़ दिया गया है जो गंभीर हो गए हैं (जैसे कि जलवायु परिवर्तन, ऋणग्रस्तता और अधिक) - यह एक नई स्थिति रिपोर्ट की मांग करता है। अन्य 'आधिकारिक' आयोगों की निरर्थकता पर भी ध्यान दें। राष्ट्रीय किसान आयोग में किसानी के उस्ताद-प्रतिष्ठित किसान और कृषि मामलों के बुद्धिजीवी होंगे। आयोग की अंतिम संरचना को निर्धारित करने में थोड़ा समय लगेगा। यह देश भर के किसानों का प्रतिनिधित्व करेगा। यह राज्य-स्तरीय किसान आयोगों को भी प्रोत्साहित करेगा जो कृषि वर्गों और समूहों के बीच पूरे देश में अध्ययन, जांच और सुनवाई कर सकते हैं।

भारत के सर्वोच्च न्यायालय ने किसानों की समस्याओं का अध्ययन करने और समाधान की पेशकश करने के लिए एक समिति के गठन का आदेश दिया। यह कृषि कानूनों के स्वघोषित समर्थकों से भरा हुआ था। अब, जब सरकार कह रही है कि वह संसद में उन कानूनों को निरस्त कर देगी, तो समिति के सदस्य स्वयं इसकी अप्रासंगिकता को स्वीकार करते हैं। इस बीच, मीडिया इस बात पर जोर देना जारी रखता है कि केवल कॉर्पोरेट समर्थक उपायों को ही 'सुधार' कहा जा सकता है। किसानों के लिए राष्ट्र ने किसान आयोग का गठन शुरू कर दिया है। 

स्वामीनाथन आयोग को अपनी पांच में से पहली रिपोर्ट सरकार को सौंपे 16 साल हो चुके हैं। हालांकि संसद में विशेष चर्चा के लिए बार-बार फोन किया गया, लेकिन यूपीए और एनडीए दोनों ने संसद में रिपोर्ट की सिफारिशों पर बहस के लिए न्यूनतम समय भी देने से इनकार कर दिया। अब सालों से, किसानों के लिए राष्ट्र मंच सरकार से चल रहे कृषि संकट के संदर्भ में रिपोर्ट और संबंधित मुद्दों पर चर्चा करने के लिए संसद का एक विशेष सत्र आयोजित करने का आह्वान कर रहा है।  

स्वामीनाथन आयोग की पहली रिपोर्ट दिसंबर 2004 में और आखिरी अक्टूबर 2006 में प्रस्तुत की गई थी। इस देश के स्वतंत्र इतिहास में कृषि पर सबसे महत्वपूर्ण रिपोर्ट पर चर्चा करने में संसद द्वारा एक दिन भी खर्च नहीं किया गया था। और अब 16 साल बीत चुके हैं, नए और दबाव वाले मुद्दों को पहले के मौजूदा मुद्दों के साथ जोड़ दिया गया है जो गंभीरता से तेज हो गए हैं (जैसे कि जलवायु परिवर्तन, ऋणग्रस्तता और अधिक)-यह एक नई स्थिति रिपोर्ट की मांग करता है।

किसान आयोग की स्थापना स्वयं किसानों की सहमति और नियंत्रण में की जाएगी और विशेषज्ञों और अन्य लोगों से परामर्श किया जाएगा - और अनुवर्ती कार्रवाई के उद्देश्य से संयुक्त मंच तैयार किया जाएगा जिसे सरकार या अदालत के युद्धाभ्यास से नहीं मारा जा सकता है। भारतीय कृषि की वास्तविक समस्याओं के बारे में हमें बताने के लिए बेहतर कौन है? यह भारतीय कृषि की स्थिति और संकट और बड़े कृषि समाज के भीतर संकट पर एक व्यापक रिपोर्ट तैयार करेगा और पारिस्थितिक रूप से लड़ने के लिए कृषि-खाद्य प्रणाली और नागरिक समूहों में शामिल किसानों, गैर-कॉर्पोरेट अभिनेताओं के गठबंधन को मजबूत करेगा। और सामाजिक रूप से सिर्फ संक्रमण। यह भारत में आवश्यक वास्तविक सुधारों पर सिफारिशें करेगा - ऐसे सुधार जो किसानों और कृषि श्रमिकों के पक्ष में हों, जो स्थानीय समुदायों के हित में हों, कॉर्पोरेट हितों के लिए नहीं।


अधोहस्ताक्षरी- 

पी साईनाथ  

दिनेश अब्रोल 

अनिल चौधरी 

निखिल डे

नवशरण सिंह     

जगमोहन सिंह 

ऐन. डी. जयप्रकाश 

थॉमस फ्रेंको 

गोपाल कृष्ण 

Sunday, November 21, 2021

Letter of Farmers to Prime Minister

Samyukt Kisan Morcha has sent a letter to Prime Minister reminding him of their pending demands. The letter is as under:

Letter to PM Mr Narendra Modi, from Samyukt Kisan Morcha 

21 November 2021 

Mr. Narendra Modi, 

Prime Minister, 

Government of India, 

New Delhi

Subject: Your message to the nation and farmers' message to you 

Dear Prime Minister, 

Crores of farmers of the country heard your address to the nation on the morning of 19th November 2021. We noted that after 11 rounds of talks, you chose the path of unilateral declaration rather than a bilateral solution; nonetheless, we are glad that you have announced the decision to withdraw all three farm laws. We welcome this announcement and hope that your government will fulfill this promise at the earliest and in full. 

Prime Minister, you are well aware that repeal of the three black laws is not the only demand of this movement. From the very beginning of the talks with the government, the Samyukt Kisan Morcha had raised three additional demands: 

1. Minimum Support Price based on the comprehensive cost of production (C2,0%) should be made a legal entitlement of all farmers for all agricultural produce, so that every farmer of the country can be guaranteed at least the MSP announced by the government for their entire crop. (The Committee formed under your Chairpersonship had made this recommendation to the then Prime Minister in 2011 and your government had also announced about this in the Parliament). 

2. Withdraw the draft Electricity Amendment Bill 2020/21 proposed by the government ( During the talks, the government had promised that it would be withdrawn,  but in a breach of promise, it was included in the Parliament's agenda). 

3. Remove the penal provisions on farmers in the "Commission for Air Quality Management in the National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas Act 2021" (This year, the government removed some anti-farmer provisions but again through section 15, possibility for penal action against farmers has been brought back). 

The farmers have been disappointed due to lack of concrete announcement on these important demands in your address. The farmers had hoped that through this historic movement, not only would the three laws be averted, but they would also get a legal guarantee of remunerative MSP for their hard work. 

Prime Minister, during this historic movement in the last one year, some other issues have also arisen which need to be resolved immediately: 

4. Thousands of farmers have been implicated in hundreds of cases during this movement (June 2020 till date) in Delhi, Haryana, Chandigarh, Uttar Pradesh and several other states. These cases should be withdrawn immediately. 

5. Ajay Mishra Teni, the mastermind of Lakhimpur Kheri murder case and accused of section 120B, is still roaming freely and remains a Minister in your cabinet. He is also sharing the stage with you and other senior ministers. He should be sacked and arrested. 

6. During this movement, so far about 700 farmers have given their lives to the cause, as their supreme sacrifice. There should be compensation and rehabilitation support for their families. To build a martyrs' memorial in the memory of the martyr farmers, land should be given at Singhu Border. 

Prime Minister, you have appealed to the farmers that now we should go back home. We want to assure you that we are not fond of sitting on the streets. we too desire that after resolving these other issues as soon as possible, we return to our homes, families and farming. If you want the same, then the government should immediately resume talks with the Samyukt Kisan Morcha on the above six issues. Till then, the Samyukt Kisan Morcha will continue this movement. 

Sincerely, 

Samyukt Kisan Morcha 




संयुक्त किसान मोर्चा के फैसले

आज की संयुक्त किसान मोर्चा (एसकेएम) प्रेस कॉन्फ्रेंस में लिए गए फैसले :

1. एसकेएम मिनिमम सपोर्ट प्राइस (एमएसपी) समिति और उसके गठन के संबंध में नरेंद्र मोदी को पत्र लिखेगा  

2. एसकेएम बिजली संशोधन बिल के बारे में भी लिखेगा

3. पराली जलाने के खिलाफ किसानों को दंडित करने के लिए पारित किए गए बिलों को रद्द करने की मांग उठाई जाएगी

4. लखीमपुर हत्याकांड के साजिशकर्ता अजय मिश्र टेनी को निलंबित करने की मांग अभी भी जारी है  

5. एसकेएम विविधीकरण पैकेज के लिए लिखेगा  

6. किसानों के खिलाफ मामले रद्द किए जाएं  

7. प्रधानमंत्री के लिए पत्र प्रेस को भी जारी किया जाएगा

8. एसकेएम की 27 तारीख को फिर बैठक होगी।




Statement of Samyukta Kisan Morcha



 

Friday, November 19, 2021

Samyukt Kisan Morcha welcomes repeal of three black farm laws, government's fourth defeat

Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) -United Farmers Front-has welcomed the announcement of the Prime Minister on the issue of repeal of the three black farm laws on 19 November. Prime Minister said, "Today, I apologize if some farmers did not understand what we wanted to do through the farm laws. We have decided to repeal the three farm laws. We will withdraw all these three bills in the upcoming Parliament session ".  


 
It is significant that the announcement was made supposedly on the occasion of Guru Nanak's Prakash Utsav that celebrates first Sikh guru, Guru Nanak. Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism, was born in 1469 in Rai-Bhoi-di Talwandi in the present Shekhupura district of Pakistan, now Nankana Sahib.

American Sikh Council has reacted saying,  "We appreciate the news on the ongoing Indian Farmers protesting the Black Laws enacted...." Kavneet Singh of the American Sikh Council has informed that "The founder of the Sikh Religion was born on 1 Vasakh which is April 14, and this the correct date and is being celebrated appropriately. Just because some Sikhs continue to celebrate the occasion on the wrong date does not make it right..." Government of India ought to update it's calender to reflect the correct date of Guru Nanak's birthday. 

It is also significant that November 19 is the birthday of late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi who assassinated in October 1984 by her body guards amidst agitations and violence in Punjab. 
 
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also announced the formation of a committee to promote zero budgeting based agriculture, to change crop patterns as per the changing needs of the country and to make Minimum Support Price (MSP) more effective and transparent. The Committee will have representatives of the central government, state governments, farmers, agricultural scientists, and agricultural economists. 
 
SKM reacted saying they "will wait for the announcement to take effect through due parliamentary procedures. If this happens, it will be a historic victory of the one year long farmers' struggle in India. However, nearly 700 farmers have been martyred in this struggle. The central government's obstinacy is responsible for these avoidable  deaths, including the murders at Lakhimpur Kheri. Kisan Ekta Morcha." SKM also reminded the Prime Minister that "the agitation of farmers is not just for the repeal of the three black laws, but also for a statutory guarantee of remunerative prices for all agricultural produce and for all farmers. This important demand of farmers is still pending. So also is the withdrawal of the Electricity Amendment Bill. SKM will take note of all developments, hold its meeting soon and announce further decisions."
 
While SKM has given a measured reaction, the announcement is being seen as a historic victory, a lesson for all the peoples' struggles in our country and across the globe. It is the fourth major defeat for the authoritarian laws. 
 
First, it was compelled to freeze Land Acquisition,& Resettlement (Second Amendment)Bill, 2015 that aimed to dilute the 2013 law which replaced 1894 colonial law because of the protest movement by Bhoomi Adhikar Andolan. 

Second, it was forced to stop implementation of biometric National Population Register (NPR) part of UID/Aadhaar Number project under Citizenship Act because of massive protests across the country. 

Third, PM forced to apologize and announce the repeal of three Farm laws because of history's longest farmers protest at Delhi borders for one year after the sacrifice of some 700 farmers. Indian State wanted the right to be absent for protection of farmers and citizens
Fourth, government was forced to withdraw the Financial Resolution and Deposit Insurance (FRDI) Bill, 2017 due to a movement lead by All India Bank Employees' Association (AIBEA), All India Bank Officers Confederation (AIBOC) and Bank Employees Federation of India (BEFI). Now the government is trying to reintroduce the Financial Resolution and Deposit Insurance (FRDI) Bill 2017, in the guise of Financial Sector Development and Regulation (Resolution) Bill (FSDR) 2019. 
Because of the withdrawal of the FRDI Bill from the Lok Sabha, bank depositors and account holders heaved a sigh of relief because their deposits will no longer be used to bail out failing institutions as was proposed. The government may do something similar in the matter of farm laws.
 
These laws were brought as a quid pro quo under the influence of anonymous donors and their electoral bonds which have been legalized through amendments in the Companies Act, 2013. The constitutional challenge against the amendment is pending before the Supreme Court. The case against farm laws is also before the court.   

Farmers have been demanding passage of The Farmers Freedom from Indebtedness Bill 2018” and “Farmers’ Right to Guaranteed Remunerative Minimum Support Price for Agricultural Commodities Bill 2018". Their demand has received support from a total of 21 political parties so far. 


 Gopal Krishna

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The author is a law and public policy researcher and a member of the steering committee of the Nation For Farmers (NFF)


Thursday, November 18, 2021

After the assault on Aurangabad judge, Madhubani judge assaulted by police officers

Bihar Police officers have assaulted Madhubani District & Sessions judge, according the order of Patna High Court's Division Bench. The court has summoned Chief Secretary, Bihar and DGP, Bihar on 29 November, 2021. Similar incident was reported last year from Aurangabad. 

In CWJC-19047/2021, the High Court on its own motion passed an order on a letter dated 18/12/2021 and summoned Chief Secretary, Bihar and DGP, Bihar. 

Station House Officer Gopal Krishna and Sub-Inspector of Police of Ghoghardiha, Madubani Abhimanyu Kumar Sharma  entered the chamber of judge Avinash Kumar and manhandled and abused the judge. 

In this alarming incident from Bihar, two police officers assaulted and abused an Additional District and Sessions Judge inside his chamber on 18/11/2021.

An order passed by the High Court based on the information received from District and Sessions Judge of Madhubani, narrated the sequence of events.

The order was passed on a suo motu case initiated by the High Court after receiving the communication from District and Sessions Judge, Madhubani regarding the incident.

The order said that Station House Officer Gopal Krishna and Sub-Inspector of Police of Ghoghardiha, Abhimanyu Kumar forcibly entered the chamber of judge Avinash Kumar who is an Additional District and Sessions Judge, Jhanjharpur, and started abusing and insultingvhim.

Both police officers manhandled the Judge and physically assaulted him, the High Court order said.

"They also took out their service revolvers and wanted to attack the officer. However, certain Court employees and Advocates reached their due to which life of the officer was saved," the order stated.

The High Court said that prima facie, it appeared that the episode is such that it puts the independence of judiciary in jeopardy.

The Court, therefore, issued notice to the senior most state officials. Lawyers associations have been demanding  independent security force for the court premises. There was a similar incident in Aurangabad last year wherein District Judge, Aurangabad was assaulted by a S.I. of Bihar Police. 

On October 21, 2020 an the unprecedented, unwarranted assault and intimidation occurred with  Dr. Dinesh Pradhan, District Judge, Aurangabad, Bihar by Bihar Police. Bihar Judicial Services Association and Association for Judges, Gujarat has condemned the incident.

Citizens Forum for Civil Liberties (CFCL) took note of the Letter of Condemnation dated October 31, 2020 in the matter of unprecedented and unwarranted assault on Dr. Dinesh Pradhan, District Judge, Aurangabad, Bihar on October 21, 2020 by S.I. Pranav of Bihar Police in reaction to action against him and a few other police officers by Judge Dr. Pradhan for dereliction of duty a few months back when he was the chief judicial magistrate, Aurangabad. 

CFCL had sought details of the letters/statements of Bihar Judicial Services Association including its  October 24 letter to DGP and letters/statements of All India Judges Association. It is also looking for a copy of the Aurangabad DM's order initiating an inquiry into the matter, written application against erring police personnel with Town Police Station prior to the incident and after the incident. 

Association of Judges had rightly said that "This is not an assault on and insult with Dr. Pradhan   only  but   is   assault   on   and   insult   of the whole subordinate Judiciary of the nation." 

In such cases, unless higher judiciary ensures stringent exemplary action, the day is not far when the spark will reach the judges of High Courts and Supreme Court. State Government is expected to act immediately against the erring policemen after the elections.  The concerns raised by CFCL and Association of Judges in the earlier case remain germane in this case as well. 


Wednesday, November 17, 2021

मैंने गंगा को देखा एक लंबे सफ़र के बाद

मैंने गंगा को देखा 

एक लंबे सफ़र के बाद 

जब मेरी आँखें 

कुछ भी देखने को तरस रही थीं 

जब मेरे पास कोई काम नहीं था 

मैंने गंगा को देखा 

प्रचंड लू के थपेड़ों के बाद 

जब एक शाम 

मुझे साहस और ताज़गी की 

बेहद ज़रूरत थी 

मैंने गंगा को देखा एक रोहू मछली थी 

डब-डब आँख में 

जहाँ जीने की अपार तरलता थी 

मैंने गंगा को देखा जहाँ एक बूढ़ा मल्लाह 

रेती पर खड़ा था 

घर जाने को तैयार 

और मैंने देखा— 

बूढ़ा ख़ुश था 

वर्ष के उन सबसे उदास दिनों में भी 

मैं हैरान रह गया यह देखकर 

कि गंगा के जल में कितनी लंबी 

और शानदार लगती है 

एक बूढ़े आदमी के ख़ुश होने की परछाईं! 


जब बूढ़ा ज़रा हिला 

उसने अपना जाल उठाया 

कंधे पर रखा 

चलने से पहले 

एक बार फिर गंगा की ओर देखा 

और मुस्कुराया 

यह एक थके हुए बूढ़े मल्लाह की 

मुस्कान थी 

जिसमें कोई पछतावा नहीं था 

यदि थी तो एक सच्ची 

और गहरी कृतज्ञता 

बहते हुए चंचल जल के प्रति 

मानो उसकी आँखें कहती हों— 

‘अब हो गई शाम 

अच्छा भाई पानी 

राम! राम!’ 


-केदारनाथ सिंह 

याज्ञसेनी बाँधो न केश

केश खुले ही रहने दो याज्ञसेनी

 -कोरोबी डेका हजारिका 


केश खुले ही रहने दो याज्ञसेनी

कालसर्प की तरह चारों ओर फैल जाए

तुम्हारी मेघवर्ण केशराशि

उसकी छाया में ढँक जाएं

चाँद, तारे और सूर्य

केश न बाँधो याज्ञसेनी।


अग्निसंभवा-

अपने नयनों में रखो प्रलय शिखा से बने तीर

तुम्हारे दोनों नयनों के अश्रु

अग्निकण बनकर बरस जाएं

खुले केशों से कालसर्प जैसी वेणी बाँधना

फिर कभी तुम-

लेकिन अभी केश खुले ही रहने दो याज्ञसेनी।


रूखे केश रक्त से धोऊँ

यही तो है न तुम्हारा प्रण

पांचजन्य की आवाज़ नहीं सुनाई दी है अभी

देव वाद्य भी नहीं बजा

हो सकता है,

कौरव सेना के संहार के लिए

महाक्षण नहीं आया है अभी।


पंचपति की अनाथ प्रिया

केशों की छाया में मुँह छिपाकर

कायर पांडवों को लज्जा ढँकने के लिए कहो

धर्मपुत्र की नीति के अधीन

पार्थ भी आज वृहन्नला के वेश में हैं

वीर वृकोदर शायद भोग में लिप्त हैं

और माद्री पुत्र ?

उनका तो नाम ही न लो

सुकुमार हैं वे, रक्त की बातों से ही

सिहर गए होंगें।


याज्ञसेनी-किसी से

सहायता की आशा न करो

केशों के मेघ में तूफान आएँ

मेघ गरजें और बिजली चमके

हस्तिनापुर का स्वर्ण महल,

धूल में मिल जाए।


अब तुम्हारे प्राण की तृष्णा

हम महसूस कर रहे हैं

ये क्षण है दु:शासन के अंत का

बहुत सहा है दुख और अपमान हमने

बहुत देखी है नीति के नाम पर

अत्याचार की रीति

नदी अब उल्टी दिशा में बहने लगी है....


याज्ञसेनी-

कौरव सेना का अट्टहास अब भी सुनाई दे रहा है

अंधे राजा की राजसभा में

मौत का चौसर

कायर पुरूषों का पण बनकर

हमने बहुत क्लेश सहा है

अब उत्तर देने का समय है

खुले केशों को रक्त से धोने का आयोजन

हम और तुम

साथ ही रक्त से सजाएंगे और बाँधेंगे

कालसर्प जैसी वेणी

इस समय

तुम अपने केश खुले ही रहने दो

याज्ञसेनी।

(याज्ञसेनी, द्रोपदी का ही एक और नाम है।) 

-असमिया से अनुवाद पापोरी गोस्वामी ने किया है ।

भारतीय कविता सम्मेलन, पटना मे कोरोबी डेका हजारिका ने अपनी कविता का हिंदी मे पाठ " याज्ञसेनी बाँधो न केश" शीर्षक से किया था। 



Monday, November 15, 2021

Private hospital operators behind murder of Madhubani journalist?

Madhubani journalist Avinash Jha (23) who exposed nursing homes and hospitals in Madhubani district of Bihar has been murdered and burnt allegedly by private hospital operators. He was missing from the night of November 9. On November 12, his body was found lying in a bush between Pali and Urain villages in Benipatti area of Madhubani. His body was handed over to his family members after the postmortem on November 13.  The autopsy report of Avinash Jha shows that he died four days back. The Benipatti police station has registered an FIR against unknown people and had initiated an investigation into the case. Jha was a noted RTI activist as well. He was strangled to death and burnt. 
The police the case of the alleged involvement of an illegal private clinic, nursing homes and pathological lab owners named in the case besides the possibility of a love triangle.
The police has arrested six people, including a woman. 
After Jha went missing, a case was lodged by his elder brother, Chandrashekhar Jha, on November 11 at the police station. Now the case no. (243/21) has been converted into a murder case.
The police has arrested-Roshan Kumar Sah (23), Bittu Kumar Pandit (20), Deepak Kumar Pandit (24), Manish Kumar (21), Pawan Kumar (22) and Jaijairam Paswan’s wife Purnakala Devi (24). 
x

Sunday, November 14, 2021

IWPC, MediaVigil, CFCL FMP issue statement on detained journalists in Tripura

Prior to the grant of bail to the two journalists, Indian Women's Press Corps issued a statement expressing solidarity with Samriddhi K.Sakunia and Swarna Jha,the two women journalists who have been harassed, intimidated and detained for doing their job. IWPC demanded their immediate release. 

MediaVigil and Citizens Forum for Civil Liberties (CFCL) endorsed the statement of Indian Women's Press Corps in solidarity with Samriddhi and Swarna, the two journalists who are facing unjust interference with their right to civil liberties. Journalist Unions, Prabhash Parampara Nyas, Committee Against Assault on Journalists (CAAJ) and Press Council of India must intervene before it is too late. 

The Foundation of Media Professionals (FMP) has also issued a statement on the
arrests by Tripura Police of young women journalists.





Thursday, November 11, 2021

Immorality, thy name is Bond, Electoral Bond


1. Immorality, thy name is Bond, Electoral Bond. 

2. Avarice, thy name is Bond, Electoral Bond. 

3. Absence of shame, thy name is Bond, Electoral Bond. 

4. Absence of embarrassment, thy name is Bond, Electoral Bond. 

5. Concealment of wrongdoing, thy name is Bond, Electoral Bond.

Gopal Krishna