punjab-under-economic-blockade-for-one-year

Punjab is currently under continuous economic “blockade”. Nobody seems to bother, much less the political leadership, whether from the ruling or the opposition parties, as everyone has maintained a studied silence. The economic blockade has hit every aspect of life and it is being felt gradually every day.

 

Thanks to the “dharna” being staged by some “farmers” at the Shambhu border, Punjab Jammu and Kashmir practically remain cut off from direct access with the rest of the country by road. People from these states have to take a detour either through the villages, where people have set up illegal toll plazas or go via Zirakpur and take the Chandigarh-Ambala highway.

 

A routine drive between Ludhiana and Ambala would take one and a half hours. Now it takes about three to three and a half hours. Imagine people who have to go farther on both sides, whether to Delhi or Jammu or Amritsar. They go through a harrowing experience. 

 

The protesting farmers are seeking a legal guarantee for the Minimum Support Price for various crops. Most of the experts have been saying that it is not financially viable for the government to provide a legal guarantee for the MSP. In fact, no government can ever dare to take such a step, which would cost Rs ten lakh crores extra financial burden to the country every year.  Even the “farmer leaders” know that.

 

More or less the Punjab and Haryana farmers already have a sort of “legal guarantee” for the MSP as their two main crops, wheat and paddy are purchased by the state agencies at the guaranteed MSP. No farmer anywhere else enjoys such a privilege. If there is a legal guarantee for the MSP, it will have to be distributed and given to farmers across the country, which will impact the farmers from Punjab and Haryana. 

 

Given the influence the farmers enjoy across Punjab and Haryana, no political party dares to contradict them. No political party has ever asked a question as to what is the point of blocking the national highway and pushing lakhs of people into everyday problems. Instead, every political party justifies what is clearly the “dictatorship of the unelected”.

 

The blockade in no way comes at any price to those who are blocking the roads. Although the laws are strict against blocking roads and rails, yet the governments turn a blind eye for political compulsions. 

 

The blockade has not only badly affected the industry and trade in Punjab and parts of Haryana, but also the common people. Be they the taxi operators or the hoteliers, their business has completely collapsed. Even when more and more people, even those who earlier supported the farmers’ stir, are feeling the adverse impact of the blockade, the governments at both the centre and the state remain unconcerned. 

 

There is a widespread perception that both governments are deliberately overlooking the blockade to create a negative opinion against the protesting farmers. There already is a lot of opposition to the blockade, but there is no proper platform where people can voice their opposition and build up pressure so that the blockade is removed. 

 

Although various trade, business and industrial organisations have a strong influence over the governments, but given their negligible vote strength, they find it difficult to get heard. But the businessmen are voicing their concerns. Hundreds of industries have shut down for multiple reasons. People have gone bankrupt. 

 

So many businessmen, like farmers, have committed suicide. But there has never been anyone coming to their support. 

 

While the businessmen pay massive taxes and have huge input costs, the farmers’ income is “tax-free”.

 

They get loans at very low interest. Besides they are provided massive subsidies on fertilisers and seeds. In Punjab, they get unlimited free electricity also.

 

None of the businessmen enjoy any of such privileges. And still, the farmers claim themselves to be at a loss and take no time to hold the entire system to ransom. 

 

Farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal is on “fast unto death” for over 40 days now.

 

Interestingly all his health parameters are normal. He has thankfully agreed to medical treatment. Hopefully, his precious life would be saved. He has indeed taken up a cause he believes to be “noble” at the risk of his own life. That is the most peaceful and non-violent way of protest like Mahatma Gandhi used to do. 

 

At the same time, the farm leaders must understand the suffering their blockade has caused to the people of Punjab.

Punjab is no longer deemed to be a “business-friendly” state. Despite a lot of proactive initiatives by the government, not many investors are coming to the state. Rather, some are even trying to shift out.

 

Farmer leaders must realise and understand that their “agitation” is immensely damaging Punjab economically and financially. Youth are already suffering due to unemployment and once the perception gets reinforced that Punjab is no longer a peaceful and business-friendly state, but a “protesting state”, it will be difficult to redeem the situation. Punjab is dangerously going the way West Bengal went during the Communist regime.

 

Although Punjab does not have such a government, given the political pressures, the AAP government appears to be feeling helpless in front of the protesting farmers.

 

It does not want to take any coercive action to remove the blockades lest it has some political fallout. The Opposition parties will be waiting for any such opportunity to show their support for the farmers. 

 

The ideal situation is to hold an all-party meeting with the protesting farmers which can be chaired by the Chief Minister in the presence of the union agriculture minister to find a way out. Punjab cannot be kept under economic blockade for months together. It is paying a heavy price.

 

Removing the blockade should be the precondition for holding any negotiations with the “farm leaders”. They have already caused massive damage to the state and its economy. It must end here.