Ex-MP and Rashtriya Lok Dal leader Jayant Chaudhary speaks to Puneet Nicholas Yadav on what the farmers’ protests mean, politically and socially. Excerpts…
On Modi’s andolan-jivi jibe
Just look up the word andolan in the dictionary—it is a collective agitation by common citizens against oppression by the State. When a Prime Minister speaks in Parliament and brands people as andolan-jivi, par-jivi, anti-national…it shows the repressive character of the regime. It is a statement of intent for crushing any form of dissent. The government must realise that these won’t work against a disciplined and peaceful agitation that is based on common interests of millions of people across the country. By mocking protesters the PM is only pouring fat into fire.
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On Jat-Muslim bonhomie
Many political pundits sitting in Delhi misread the 2019 Lok Sabha results from western UP. Yes, the BJP swept the region but the Jats of west UP had begun to move away from the BJP even then. Both Chaudhary Ajit Singh and I lost the election narrowly. These laws have convinced the Jats and other communities that the BJP is only interested in enjoying power by creating fissures in age-old bonds of brotherhood. The 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots deeply hurt centuries-old social bonds between the Jats and Muslims. People of both communities wanted reconciliation. The anti-farmer laws have given that cause for reconciliation. Of course, this hasn’t happened overnight. We organised several bhaichara sammelans. Chaudhary Ajit Singh personally reached out to leaders of both communities. The two communities realised that their common identity of a kisan will take them forward. This agitation has forced a lot of people from different religious and caste backgrounds to re-imagine their priorities.
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Sustaining the momentum till 2024
Some memories linger longer. The arrogance of the government and the way protesters were dealt with an iron rod…people won’t forget so soon. Of course, opposition parties will need to constantly remind the people that the BJP does not care for their interest. There is greater awareness among the people of how they have been fooled by this government. I am very sure that an alternative to Modi will emerge soon.
