India’s Farm Laws Stayed — Is it too Soon To Call it a Victory?

We have reclaimed democracy a little

Maybe a little. The Supreme Court of India is currently hearing both sides — the government and the farmers on the three farm bills, which were hastily passed mid-last-year. There have been widespread protests in the northern agrarian states of India, namely Haryana, Punjab and Rajasthan since then. The farmers think the laws would take away the government protection of minimum support pricing and leave them at the mercy of the corporates.

The Supreme court today in a landmark judgement has put a stay on all the farm bills — in layman’s words, the chief justice of India is saying — “Farmers don’t want it, so lawmakers, you can take it back and shove it in your pockets or wherever.” Or maybe I am hoping he says it in these words.

Nevertheless, the fact that the matter has reached the Supreme court provides some respite to the farmers over the useless conversations they have been having with the Government so far. There have been eight meaningless attempts in the last two months to tell the policymakers that these laws need to be repealed, nothing less.

The protests by our farmer brothers and sisters have been nothing less of an inspiration. Man, they fought the dirtiest battle of recent times — water…