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)

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. 

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। 

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). 

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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.

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