The facade of the Indian construct is beautified in such a way by both Indian and western media that apparently it touches the skyscrapers but the complexities in which India has entangled is a far way beyond the horizons of comprehension. In reality, Indian political top brass is busy in embezzlement of treasury accumulated with the taxes of poor populace. Poverty is pervasive and menace in the country; people conspicuously seen lying on the footpaths to slums homelessly in every nook and corner. The internal insurgencies occurring in Kashmir (freedom fighters), North East India (seven sister states), Red corridor (Naxalite-Maoist insurgency) and Khalistan movement in Punjab are raw aggressions which are potential threats for India.
In 2009, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said Naxalism is the greatest threat to India’s survival. With each passing day, minorities are suffering from insecurity. Instead of assuaging minorities’ anger, the government’s ignorance will cause big unimaginable trouble for the country. With no surprise, Modi’s Hindutva government is adding fuel to the fire in this extremely fragile situation. But Indian media is a lapdog of government censors the real situation in India.
Three new bills introduced in September 2020 for farmers, the government calls it “watershed moment” and opposition calls it “Death Warrant”. The government says that this law has given more autonomy to farmers, now farmers can sell their product at a market price directly to private companies, agriculture businesses, supermarkets, and even online grocers. Apparently, this seems to be a good step and the government should be given an encouraging pat because “self-autonomy” has granted. But farmers believe that this will make it easier for private corporations and supermarkets to exploit agricultural workers. Private markets and buyers are still present, but if farmers are not satisfied with the price offered by private companies, they return to the wholesale market and bargain about the prices. These laws will lead to an end of wholesale markets and assured prices set by the government.
Currently, Indian farmers sell their produce at government-controlled wholesale markets at assured floor prices. A farmer explained the issue more vividly that “First, farmers will feel attracted towards these private players, who will offer a better price for the produce. The government wholesale market will pack up meanwhile and after a few years, these players will start exploiting the farmers.”
The reality of these bills is an “ill omen” for small and marginalized farmers. This wave of fear has swept over farmers and see-sawed from fear to anger. The government has held eight rounds of talks with leaders of more than 30 farmers’ unions but all in vain. Both government and farmers are adamantly opposed to each other. US-based secessionist group “Sikh for Justice” has stated that the government’s aim is to destroy Sikh’s economically by handing over agriculture and market to the big corporations. If Hindu majority country deprives Sikh minority of their fundamental right, then “Khalistan” (a state that existed in Punjab from 1709 to 1849) is the only solution to this problem.
Thousands of farmers carrying ceremonial swords, ropes, and sticks have stormed the historic Red Fort on India’s Republic Day was just a demo of the Sikh community to show their power. History has witnessed the valor and bravery displayed by the Sikhs against their enemies. Sikh protesters have again planned to go to parliament on February 1st when the government is scheduled to present the annual budget. If the agriculture law doesn’t repeal, then the slogans of “Indian held Punjab” or “Indian occupied Punjab” will be echoed across the country.
There are grim prospects that these protests could sow the new seeds of the “Khalistan Movement.” This separatist movement is in a dormant state since the Sikh community holding elevated positions in India. Minorities are the victim of grievous injustice and repression rather than atrocities with minorities has become the hallmark of India now. Moreover, there is growing public disenchantment in India against the Bharatiya Janata Party — the political arm of the Hindu militant Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, or RSS. Their aim is to revive purely Hindu “Gupta’s Empire (mid-to-late 3rd century CE to 543 CE)” in India by jettisoning minorities. The plight of Indian people living in poverty, insurgency, disharmony, and religious intolerance will swallow India itself soon.
