A historic event is unfolding in India as farmers protest en masse

The last decade has witnessed a rise of populist and strongmen leaders in many countries. The United States, India, Brazil, and the United Kingdom elected governments that rose through dog-whistle slogans against corrupt establishments. Often, these movements begin with nationalism as a tool to counter opposition and control the majority. This has turned out to be an effective strategy for seizing control in a democracy but it almost always needs an enemy to keep the base energized. Eventually, such political movements end up alienating several sections of the society. Therefore, the success is then dependent upon dividing the opposition, marginalizing the minority, and discrediting anyone who cannot be convinced. However, the voters in a democratic setup will eventually demand a normalcy. This dynamic played out in the U.S. recently. The verdict in the recent U.S. election leaves a divided nation in its wake, but is a vote for a return to normalcy. Meanwhile, India and many other countries remain spellbound. However, recent events in India suggest that we are on the cusp of something truly historic. The Indian government recently passed three new ordinances—against the backdrop of COVID-19 and with no parliamentary discussion—that amend laws to privatize the farming sector, including essential commodities. Farmer unions in the state of Punjab correctly perceived these bills as a huge negative impact, attacking farmer's very survival. The unions demanded an immediate repeal of these laws. The BJP government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, applied their time-tested strategy to label these demands as the handiwork of the political opposition. It is important to note here that the BJP government and their surrogates routinely label protesters as “terrorists,” “foreign agents,” “anti-national,” “confused or misguided, and so on. These labels are designed to exploit the political, social, and religious fault-lines in the Indian society, and have the intended effect of creating divisions that end up derailing the protests. Farmers began their protest in the state of Punjab but also opened communications with farmers in other states. The Modi government chose to dismiss the demand through propaganda—often peddled using their intermediaries in the media—that these laws are in fact designed to benefit the farmers. The farmer protest continued to grow and received support from labor unions, transporter unions, bar councils and farmers from other Indian states. Sensing the momentum, the Punjab farmers decided to take the fight to Modi’s house in the capital city of New Delhi. As hundreds of thousands of farmers and their supporters prepared to march towards the nation’s capital, the strongman-led BJP government decided to use heavy-handed tactics to stop the march. These tactics included digging up the highways and setting up illegal barb wires with blades along the route. When these tactics failed to stop the farmers, the government used baton charge, water cannons, and tear gas to disperse the marchers. Even this did not halt the progress of the determined farmers. They reached the capital’s borders and blocked all access points into and out of Delhi. The proud people of Punjab have a long history of standing up to fight against injustice and oppression. This willingness to fight, not only in the defence of homeland but also for people’s rights, is ingrained in the very social fabric of the state. History is replete with political strongmen, Modi being the latest archetype, who have underestimated this will. BJP’s social media lackeys and surrogates activated their propaganda machine. They became hyper-active trying to define the protesting farmers as “terrorists” and “anti- nationals.” They tried to link the farmers to the separatist movement for Khalistan. Government officials sent in hired goons to create mischief at the protest site in the hopes of using it later to justify the use of the armed forces to disperse the protestors. However, vigilant farmers caught these agents, thereby exposing the government’s conspiracy. Even in the face of these underhanded tactics, farmers showed utmost discipline and restraint to keep the protest peaceful with a single-minded focus on repeal of farm laws. By gaining support from many sectors in several Indian states, this movement of Punjab farmers had turned into the largest protest in human history. Modi and his acolytes are savvy practitioners in the dark arts of using social media to spread and amplify conspiracy theories and misinformation. They routinely deploy these tools to curb protests by winning public opinion not only within India’s borders but also among the larger Indian diaspora. In Punjab farmers, Modi appears to have finally met his match. By using the same social media, the farmers successfully countered the government’s propaganda and debunked the twisted conspiracy theories. The farmers have also shown steadfast unity, organizing skills, and discipline. Farmers have clearly portrayed these bills for what they truly are–a sell-off of their interests to the corporations led by the richest Indians. To avoid politicizing the stand-off, the farmers successfully kept all political parties at arm’s length. This served to pre-empt the government’s charge of them being misguided. All of this finally forced the government to the negotiation table. The farmer’s protest and the events surrounding it are truly historic. The protests serve to highlight the injustices of the draconian farm bill and diminishing democratic rights, but they are so much more. The protests are a harsh spotlight on the true nature of the populist rightwing forces that seek to harness hyper-nationalist rhetoric and majority grievance politics to give away public riches to private interests. The protests are a direct challenge to the populist mindset and to the manipulation and control tools of the populist regimes. Even if the farmers do not achieve all their objectives, their protest will surely leave a black mark on the brute arrogance of the state led by strongmen politicians. The protest helps the cause of moderate centrist political forces. Several progressive leaders around the world are already taking note and have spoken out about the importance of peaceful protest and civil liberties. Here in Canada, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Conservative Party Leader Erin O’Toole, and NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh have spoken in one voice about protecting the democratic rights of the farmers in India. This is in spite of significant danger to further damage the already-fractured diplomatic and trade ties with India. Canadian residents of Indian origin are coming out in every city to support the Indian farmers and their rights to peaceful protest. Although many Canadians have yet to fully tune into their protests, the farmer’s movement will have far-reaching impact. The success or failure of this movement may prove to be pivotal to determine the fate of the populist regime, providing a clear counter-strategy, not only in India but throughout the world. Even in the face of brutal violence and misinformation unleashed by the state, the farmers have eschewed any form of violence. It is especially heartening that all of this is happening in the land of Mahatma Gandhi. Surely, he will be smiling in heaven when the protestors succeed. Kanwar Hazrah is a full time public servant and an Ottawa resident for more than 20 years. In his free time he wears a couple other hats as social and political analyst and activist, and he’s volunteered with many social and political organizations. The Hill Times