I am deliberately writing this letter to you in my mother tongue Punjabi. I am writing this at a time when the governments of India, India itself, are flouting the democratic norms of India, which are clearly visible, but still our judiciary remains a mute spectator. It is silent on a very sensitive issue like protecting the constitutional rights of the people. It is not that the Honorable Supreme Court is not aware of this issue. It is regrettable that the Honorable Supreme Court has given only loose instructions to the governments of India, Haryana and Punjab regarding the farmer leader S. Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who is on a fast unto death on the Khanauri border of Punjab-Haryana, a few days ago.
Sir, I request you to first understand the spirit and mentality of Punjab and Punjabis. The people of this place, living in only one and a half percent of the country’s area, have been fighting against all oppression for centuries. When during the Mughal period, the oppressors used to loot Delhi and take the daughters captive from there to Afghanistan, then our ancestors used to fight them fiercely and free the captive daughters and take them to their heirs from house to house. History is a witness that more than 90 percent of the warriors of the country who kissed the nooses and served the sentences of black waters in the country’s freedom struggle were Punjabis. Even today, Punjab is the sword arm of the country. Whenever the country was attacked by China or Pakistan, the sons of Punjabis, soldiers, fought bravely for the country. After the 1962 war with China, Punjabis alone donated 17 quintals 20 kg of gold to the government for the defense of the country, while the rest of the country donated only 18 kg. When the country was caught in a food crisis, the farmers of Punjab from 1966-67 to 1970 not only made the country self-reliant but also a food surplus country instead of a food deficit. Even if any disaster strikes, Punjabis have always been at the forefront to help. Despite all this, the treatment of Punjabis by the central rulers is not only regrettable but also condemnable.
Mr. Ji, the whole world knows that in 1982, when Mr. Bhajan Lal became the Chief Minister of Haryana, the Asian Games were held in the country’s capital Delhi. Bhajan Lal’s government not only prevented Punjabis from going to Delhi, but also humiliated them by removing them from buses and cars. Even then, the central rulers of the country and our judiciary remained silent spectators. The 1984 genocide of Sikhs in Delhi and various places in the country will remain etched in the minds of Sikhs for centuries. Once again, the historic farmers’ agitation on the bridges of Delhi in 2020-21 is a telling picture of the oppression of farmers by the Center. The Central Government barricaded all the national highways leading to Delhi and kept them closed for 13 months. This farmers’ agitation, the longest-running, most peaceful and most participatory agitation in the world, turned out to be historic. Why did the Central Government block the national highways unconstitutionally? Our judicial system did nothing. The government called the three black laws it had made again and withdrew them by calling a session of Parliament. The Central Government has remained silent till date after giving a written assurance of resolving the MSP of crops and other demands.
Sir, the farmer, whom the whole country calls the food provider, is not a political opponent of the rulers. Despite working the hardest, he is stuck in debt due to the government’s anti-farmer policies. Lakhs of farmers have committed suicide across the country. No government cares. The government has lakhs of crores to waive off the loans of the rich, especially the corporate houses, but the government’s treasury always remains empty for the food grains.
Sir, once again, the farmers of Punjab have been continuously agitating since February 2024 regarding the demands of the farmers of the entire country. They want to go to their country’s capital Delhi as a peaceful protest. Just as in 2020, the central government had barricaded the Delhi border to prevent the farmers from going to their capital, similarly this time too, the Haryana and central governments have barricaded the Shambhu and Khanauri borders of Punjab and Haryana in seven layers of concrete to prevent the farmers from going to Delhi. Not only this, the government has so far forcibly fired bullets on the farmers, released tear gas and poisonous gases, sprayed chemical water cannons, beaten the farmers and broke their bones. One farmer, Shubhkaran Singh, was martyred by bullets. Many have lost both their eyes, more than 450 farmers have been injured so far. The government has continuously closed the National Highway. Even now, when unarmed farmers, chanting ‘Satnaam Waheguru’ in groups of 101, 101, move towards peaceful Delhi, they are subjected to inhuman torture.
Sir, fed up, farmer leader S. Jagjit Singh Dallewal has sat on a fast unto death. It is about to be a month, his condition remains alarming. The Honorable Supreme Court has ordered the Punjab, Haryana and the Central Government to take care of his health, but why is the Honorable Court silent on the placement of barricades to block the path of farmers? Will you tell us which article of the Constitution prevents farmers from going to their capital Delhi and peacefully protesting and agitating. Which article of the Constitution does the Haryana and Central Government have, which allows them to block the path of all Punjabis by placing barricades. The closure of this national highway has caused billions of rupees of loss to Punjab’s trade, industry and the common people. Is Punjab not a part of the country? Are Punjabis foreigners or enemies of the country? We want to know from you that when the governments themselves are flouting the law, why is our judiciary silent? Why do you create a feeling of alienation among Punjabis?Yes? Sir, the behavior of the central government is not constitutional in any way. Therefore, intervene immediately and give clear orders and give justice to the farmers by holding the government accountable for its atrocities. This is our constitutional demand.
