The Farm Bills protests by the farmers of Punjab that have camped in Delhi by entering from all the five borders is slowly and steadily snowballing into a movement that is going away and away from the core demands of the farmers. What started as a noble Farm Bill protest was quickly hijacked by the left-liberal lobby to settle political scores with the government in power. Later, it emerged that Khalistani sympathizers (Read: Deep Sidhu) were marching along with Farmers with their vested interests of reviving the Khalistan movement in the garb of farmer’s protest. While the reason for protests from genuine farmers could be honest but the fact that the entire movement has been hijacked by non-state actors can also be not side-stepped. And now, with the international lobby and their few known politicians jumping in India’s internal matters, it is clear as chalk and cheese that global anti-India forces have now swooped in to hijack the protests.
Reported by TFI, first and foremeost, it has been the Canadian PM Justin Trudeau who has once again inflicted a self-goal by trying to have a ‘holier-than-thou’ attitude. His efforts to portray himself as the ‘Good Samaritan’ for the Sikhs across Canada hasn’t exactly gone down well with India.
“I would be remiss if I didn’t start by recognising the news coming from India about the protest by farmers. The situation is concerning. We are all very worried about family and friends.” said Trudeau whilst adding that Canada always stood for peaceful protests and would continue to “defend” the rights of peaceful protesters in India.
‘Canada Will Defend Right to Protest’: PM @JustinTrudeau Backs Indian Farmers
He spoke on #Gurpurab where he mentioned protests by farmers in India against @narendramodi govt's new farm laws.#FarmerProtest@PMOIndia @HCI_Ottawa @CanadianPM @CanadainIndia @Ajaybis @nadirypatel pic.twitter.com/MGT20YwKjM— Geeta Mohan گیتا موہن गीता मोहन (@Geeta_Mohan) December 1, 2020
Interestingly, Trudeau’s statements came a day after Jagmeet Singh tweeted a similar statement on his account and called out the Indian government for its ‘alleged’ mistreatment of the farmers. It seems as if it was Jagmeet who pushed the buttons of Trudeau and programmed him to issue a statement that, most certainly, is not going to invite any positive response from New Delhi.
“The violence perpetrated by the Indian govt against farmers peacefully protesting is appalling. I stand in solidarity w/ the farmers from Punjab and across India – and, I call on the Indian govt to engage in peaceful dialogue rather than violence” tweeted Jagmeet Singh.
The violence perpetrated by the Indian govt against farmers peacefully protesting is appalling
I stand in solidarity w/ the farmers from Punjab and across India – and, I call on the Indian govt to engage in peaceful dialogue rather than violence
Thank you for your advocacy Jack https://t.co/tBU541Bp4a
— Jagmeet Singh (@theJagmeetSingh) November 28, 2020
When the Liberal Party led by Trudeau was looking to gobble up the votes of the Sikh community in Canada, the opposition too jumped in the fray to have a piece of the pie. The opposition in Canada had fallen agonizingly close to the majority mark in last year’s elections. It was the support of Jagmeet Singh’s New Democratic Party (NDP) which allowed Trudeau to form the government. Thus, the opposition is now set out to woo the Khalistan supporters and tap their vote bank.
Leader of Opposition in the Ontario Assembly, Andrea Horwath tweeted:“#IStandWithFarmers in India who are protesting peacefully, as well as their loved ones here in Ontario, who are watching the violent crackdown in horror. Everyone deserves to be able to exercise their democratic rights without fear of state-sanctioned violence.”
UK’s new Labour Party leader Kier Starmer who has been looking to mend his party’s ties with India after receiving a snubbing from the British-Indian voters hasn’t been able to keep his partymen in check.
Labour MP from Slough and Shadow Rail Minister Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi tweeted: “It takes a special kind of people to feed those ordered to beat and suppress them. I stand with farmers of the #Punjab and other parts of #India, including our family and friends, who are peacefully protesting against the encroaching privatisation of #FarmersBill2020.”
It takes a special kind of people to feed those ordered to beat and suppress them.
I stand with farmers of the #Punjab and other parts of #India, including our family and friends, who are peacefully protesting against the encroaching privatisation of #FarmersBill2020. pic.twitter.com/TFywBgtK9X
— Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi MP (@TanDhesi) November 28, 2020
Jagmeet Singh’s brother Gurratan Singh, who represents Brampton East in the Ontario provincial parliament spoke about the farmers’ protest in the House. “Farmers are under attack in India…That’s why I’m asking this house to stand with farmers against these unjust laws by the Indian government”. It was imperative that a statement was coming from Gurratan, given his brother’s Khalistan links.
The Indian govt's use of water cannons and tear gas on farmers protesting mass privatization of the agricultural sector and unjust reform of farming laws is appalling. They deserve respect for feeding the nation instead of being subjected to state brutality. #ISTANDWITHFARMERS pic.twitter.com/XPi2uGjFrt
— Gurratan Singh (@GurratanSingh) November 27, 2020
Another Labour MP from Birmingham Edgbaston and Shadow Secretary for International Development Preet Kaur Gill tweeted, “Shocking scenes from Delhi. Farmers are peacefully protesting over controversial bills that will impact their livelihoods. Water cannons, and tear gas, are being used to silence them.”
Shocking scenes from Delhi. Farmers are peacefully protesting over controversial bills that will impact their livelihoods. Water cannons, and tear gas, are being used to silence them. #HumanRights @BBCWorld #Indianfarmers #FarmersBill2020 https://t.co/2ROyb5WSHI
— Preet Kaur Gill MP (@PreetKGillMP) November 28, 2020
Rob Mitchell, Labour MP from McEwen in Victoria, who spoke in the country’s Parliament in support of Punjabi farmers. He said: “I join many in our community who are disturbed at the treatment of Punjabi farmers in India and those who fear for their safety while peacefully protesting. I urge the Indian government to show restraint while dealing with protesters.”
https://twitter.com/AkaliStoic/status/1333737505317765122?
The state of Victoria has long been dubbed as a bastion of China’s Belts and Road Initiative. While the Liberal Prime Minister Scott Morrison has weeded out BRI from nearly all states, Victoria is still going strong with China. Therefore, it does not come as a surprise that one of the MP’s from the State toes an anti-India line.
The American politicians have been subdued so far in the response to the Farm Bill protests. No big-ticket name has commented on the protest yet, however, it was Harmeet K Dhillon, a Republican Party lawyer and official, who in a muted tone also showed where her allegiances lie.
I stand with my brothers and sisters from the farming life in Punjab and other agricultural communities. They deserve to be heard, not beaten and abused. https://t.co/xEpVR4EF0C
— Harmeet K. Dhillon (@pnjaban) December 2, 2020
PM Modi has already remarked that a new trend has surfaced in the country where protests are based on creating doubts through misinformation. And looks like the international lobby is also working on a similar ‘modus-operandi’. However, in an attempt to run a smear campaign against the Indian government, these forces have shown their true anti-India colors. The Modi government is unperturbed by the white-noise of anti-India forces and steadily going about its business, just the way it did during the anti-CAA protests.
