Five months, 400 farmers killed; Why haven't we kept a count
India is literally counting deaths now. Political leaders who having failed to provide hospital beds and oxygen to the Covid-19 patients are simply making provisions for the disposal of the dead bodies. They have not only increased the number of crematoriums but also assured that their number would be increased further. Politicians seem to be more adept at cremating dead bodies than protecting their lives. Their message seems to be that “Be prepared to die, we will make preparations to light your pyres.” Even the media is busy counting the deaths instead of boldly exposing the failure of the Centre and the state governments.
At the same time, India also witnessing saga of deaths. Agitating farmers at the Delhi border are dying but not of Covid-19. In the past five months, about 400 farmers have died while fighting for their demands. The Government is responsible for these deaths just as it is responsible for death of Covid patients. Amidst the pandemic we are realizing the consequences of not strengthening our public health system. In 2017, more than 150 children died due to lack of oxygen in Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh. Dr Kafeel Khan then took the initiative to procure oxygen from private organizations and saved the lives of hundreds of children. In the process he also exposed exposed the weakness of the public health system in the state. He was imprisoned for this. Although he was responsible for saving the lives of many the children, he was accused of negligence. Now, oxygen deficiency is causing the deaths of lakhs of Covid patients. And those who ignored Dr Kafeel Khan’s early warning branded him as a ‘terrorist’, and imprisoned him are responsible for these deaths too.
The agriculture sector is as significant as the health sector. If private corporations take over agriculture from farmers, the consequences will be disastrous on India’s food security. Farmers have hit the streets protesting against the anti-farmer policies of the government. Despite the anxiety created by the pandemic, farmers have not withdrawn their agitation and have also clarified that they would not do so. The government has neglected their demand.
The day is not too far when the government will pay a heavy price for this neglect. The government, in the meantime, is trying to build an anti-farmer narrative through the media holding the agitating farmers responsible for spreading the Coronavirus by not wearing masks. The same government turned a total blind eye towards the Kumbhamela and election rallies which had the potential to spread the virus. If government’s concern regarding the farmers’ agitation as potential site of spreading the Coronavirus, the government should heed the demands of the farmers so that they will end their agitation. The farmers need to return to their native as they have enough and more work waiting for them.
Farmers have been striving hard for several years to make India self-sufficient in food grains and for the betterment of people’s lives. The government should not forget this. When the country was facing drought a few years ago the government launched ‘grow more food’ program. The farmers made this program a success. The government should be grateful to farmers and accept their demand for the withdrawal of the controversial farm laws that they fear will have disastrous consequences on Indian agriculture. But, it appears that the Centre has decided to use its might to end the farmers agitation.
Today, we are experiencing the effects of corporatization of the health sector. Big industrialists in the health sector are contemplating how much money can be made during the current pandemic. Middle-men are deciding the price of vaccine, oxygen, and hospital beds. If the government had encouraged public hospitals, we would not have faced such a situation. In the coming days, the effects of complete corporatization of the agriculture sector will be borne not only by farmers but also by everyone.. Meeting farmers’ demands would be similar to strengthening the country’s future..
The 150-day old farmers’ agitation that has not only withstood rain, scorching sun, and cold but also a pandemic such as the Coronavirus has also attracted the attention of the world. Because of the failure in handling the Coronavirus, India has to hang its head in shame before the international community. The government should at least now wake up to the farmers’ agitation. If farmers are to be forcefully vacated, it would lead to a greater tragedy.
The country owes a debt to farmers who toil hard to feed its teeming millions even under most adverse situations. It is true that the Indian agriculture sector needs reforms but the changes must be decided by farmers.. Withdrawal of the anti-farmer laws is the minimum that the government should do. That will be like the much-needed oxygen for agitating farmers.
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Kejriwal responds to EC, says water received from Haryana 'extremely poisonous' for human health
New Delhi (PTI): AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday responded to the Election Commission notice over his claim the Haryana government was "mixing poison" in Yamuna, and said raw water received from the BJP-ruled state in the recent past has been "highly contaminated and extremely poisonous" for human health.
In the 14-page reply to the Election Commission, the former Delhi chief minister said if such "toxic water" is allowed to be consumed by human population it would lead to grave health hazard and fatality.
Kejriwal said he only wanted to highlight the "urgent public health crisis" due to the quality of drinking water in the city, and he violated no law or Model Code of Conduct, hence the issue should be closed.
He said the "alleged statements" attributed to him were made as it was his public duty to red flag the "severe toxicity and contamination" of raw water received from the BJP-ruled state.
Following a complaint filed by the BJP over the matter, the Election Commission issued the notice to Kejriwal on Tuesday, giving him time till Wednesday 8 pm to furnish his reply.
Kejriwal also said the ammonia level in raw water received from Haryana was so "extreme" that water treatment plants in Delhi are unable to process and bring it down to safe and permissible limits for human consumption.
Following their party chief's response, the AAP issued a statement, saying, "It is an undisputed fact that there is 7 ppm ammonia in Yamuna water, A Delhi Jal Board CEO letter admits toxicity is 700 percent higher than the permissible limit."
In his response to the EC, Kejriwal also alleged that Haryana's "failure" in controlling pollution in Yamuna has resulted in an "unprecedented public health crisis" in Delhi. He alleged "indiscriminate" discharge of industrial waste in the river by the state.
The AAP supremo said Haryana is an upper-riparian state and Delhi, ruled by his party, has no role to play in the high level of toxic water being made available to the city.
"Due to such high level of toxic content in the raw water supplied by Haryana, the water treatment plants in Delhi are operating below capacity and there is a shortage of treated water in Delhi," he claimed.
Saying that access to clean water is a basic human right, the AAP chief asserted that raising this critical issue cannot be considered an offence.
"The said statement by no stretch of the imagination can be termed inciting enmity between different groups or prejudicial to national integration," he said.
On the contrary, the substance and purpose of these statements are rooted solely in the public interest, aimed at highlighting a legitimate civic concern that requires urgent institutional intervention, he asserted.
He requested the EC to intervene in the matter and issue appropriate directions to Haryana so safe water is made available to the people of Delhi.
