Published 16:42 IST, December 11th 2020
From Yogendra Yadav to Hannan Mollah, no farming background for these 'farmer leaders'?
It is fascinating to see how many of the protesting 'farmer leaders' in the agitation are not actually farmers at all, affiliated largely to the Left
While the Central government and leaders of the farmers' unions have held talks multiple times over the past 16 days since the agitation reached the national capital, a resolution is yet to be found. The Centre has made it clear that the agrarian laws will not be repealed, though it has proposed several amendments to assuage the farmers who, for their part, have maintained that will continue and intensify their stir unless the laws are withdrawn.
In the midst of this, there have also been numerous attempts by political parties to hijack the farmers' protests. While some have noticeably failed like Congress' General Secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala's stunt in the national capital, other attempts are also now coming to be called out as was witnessed on Thursday when the Left swooped in asking farmers to hold placards demanding the release of and riot-accused activists such as Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam.
Amidst the Centre's repeated attempts to allay fears over the agrarian laws and its detailed amendment proposal addressing areas of concern, another interesting aspect of the protests has come to the fore - that many of the protesting 'farmer leaders' in the agitation are not actually farmers at all, affiliated largely to the Left and political parties such as the Communist Party of India (CPI-M).
Here is a list of 'farmer leaders' with no farming backgrounds
Darshan Pal, who made headlines when he called for the burning of PM Modi's effigies on December 5, is the State president of Krantikari Kisan Union (KKU). Pal, a retired doctor in Punjab state Health department is affiliated to CPI(Maoist). Notably, he is also one of the founders of People’s Democratic Front of India (PDFI), affiliated with the Maoist movement.
Hannan Mollah, another popular face of the farmers' movement this year is also affiliated to CPI(Marxist). An eight-time MP from the party between 1980 to 2009, Mollah is a resident of Howrah, West Bengal. He has also served as the general secretary of DYFI, the youth wing of the Communist Party from 1980 to 1991 and is at present the general secretary of AIKS and joint secretary of All India Agricultural Workers Union.
Jagmohan Singh Patiala, a member of BKU(Dakaunda), is also linked to CPI(Maoist). A resident of Patiala, he is a trained Acupuncturist and has also served in the co-operative department of Punjab Government.
Yogendra Yadav who has been at the forefront of the protests and had somehow declared that not even the delivery of essential commodities will be permitted during the 'Bharat Bandh', is notably the convenor of Swaraj India, a social worker and a psephologist. Yadav however, has come to be actively associated with farmers’ protest and is a member of Sanyukt Kisan Morcha and the co-convener of AIKSCC.
Kavitha Kuruganti convenor of ASHA (Alliance for Sustainable and Holistic Agriculture) hails from Bangalore and is a social activist. A member of the Central Working Committee of the AIKSCC, she is said to have coordinated with representatives of various states to mobilize people to participate in the agitation including Yogendra Yadav and Medha Patkar. Alongside, she is also spearheading a campaign for banning Reliance Jio mobile services.
Another notable name in the farmers' protests has been Nav Nirman Vikas Sangathan(NNVS)'s Akhshay Kumar. A resident of Odisha, he is a social activist and a close associate of Anna Hazare and Medha Patkar. He has also been a part of major social revolutions in the past like the Narmada Bachao Andolan and Azadi Bachao Andolan. Akhshay Kumar is the national convenor of NNVS, a farmer front of Nava Nirman Samiti.
Meanwhile, attempting to shatter myths over agricultural reform laws, the BJP has planned a mega outreach programme. The party has announced that it will organise 'press conferences' and 'chaupals' in all districts across the country. 700 press conferences and 700 chaupals are set to be organised over the next few days, as per news agency ANI.
Updated 18:18 IST, December 11th 2020