Sandeep Singh: Farmers Remain Cautious As Modi Admits Defeat
“Modi has just made a verbal promise. Until they repeal the laws in Parliament what can we say about it? We cannot trust the government.”
Sandeep Singh
November 19, 2021 | 2.5 min. read | Original Reporting
While farmers are celebrating Modi’s admission of defeat on November 19, they are ready to stay put at Delhi’s borders until the government completes the procedure of repealing the farm laws during Parliament’s winter session later this month.
When news of the repeal reached farmers, celebrations swept across the country.
Sweets were distributed at the protest sites, drums were beaten, and people were dancing. At Singhu Border, youth were seen dancing on the road while they played music on their tractors.
Sucha Singh, 70, of Gurdaspur was sitting at a table at Singhu when I passed by. He shared that it was the first time he had seen such a large-scale and lengthy protest. While he is happy with the announcement, he remains cautious until it is fully repealed.
“Modi has just made a verbal promise. Until they repeal the laws in Parliament what can we say about it? We cannot trust the government.”
Sucha Singh has withheld celebrating until after the winter session.
Jaswinder is from Baroda in Haryana’s Sonipat District. He hailed Modi’s decision to withdraw the farm laws.
“Modi’s decision is in the interest of our country and farmers. Finally, the government has listened to the farmers. Also, Farmers have proved that the government is nothing without farmers and the country cannot function without them.”
Andhar Dhaiya comes and interrupts Jaswinder as he is speaking to me.
“We are not satisfied with the announcement and we want to see follow-up action in actually repealing the laws, as well as a guarantee of Minimum Support Price (MSP).”
Dhaiya shares that they will not go back to their home villages until a final decision is made by farm leaders.
Sardhul Singh,75, a native of Amritsar is also camped out at Singhu.
“We are happy that finally Modi has spoken about the farm laws and will have them repealed. Since the beginning of the protest, he was mute. Modi used to call the farm laws good, then the government wanted to amend it, finally, now he will have them repealed.”
Sardhul Singh has a trust issue with Modi.
“Until they do not repeal the laws we cannot trust them. Before 2014’s Lok Sabha Elections he had promised to deposit 15 lakh rupees in the account of every Indian, that promise still remains unfulfilled.”
Singh also shared he got a phone call from his loved ones at home, which made him happy seeing everyone celebrating.
Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) hailed Modi’s decision but also demanded an MSP guarantee. SKM will hold its meeting on the weekend and decide future course of action.
The Farmers’ Protest has been at Delhi’s borders since November 2020. Well over 600 farmers have lost their lives while participating in the demonstration. As the protest nears the one-year anniversary and elections are coming in five different states next year, many are seeing today’s announcement from an electoral perspective.
Sandeep Singh hails from Machhiwara, Punjab. As an independent journalist, he has worked with many prominent Indian news organizations. Sandeep has been following the farmer’s protest in Punjab since its onset and traveled with them to Delhi. He spends most of his time at the Singhu border protest site. You can follow Sandeep on Twitter @Punyaab
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