Editorial: Avoidable tragedy

Lakhimpur Kheri incident clearly shows the Centre’s failure to address the concerns of protesting farmers

The political storm over the violent clashes in Uttar Pradesh during farmers’ protests has come as a grim reminder of the tragic consequences of the government’s prevarication on a pressing public issue. While the circumstances that led to the death of eight people, including four farmers, in Lakhimpur Kheri district are still not clear, amid conflicting claims, what comes out clearly is the Centre’s failure to address the concerns of those protesting against the controversial farm laws. Though the demonstrations have been going on for nearly a year, particularly in the northern States, the NDA government has not been able to find a solution to the impasse leading to frequent bursts of violence. Farmers have alleged that the Union Minister of State Ajay Mishra’s son Ashish Mishra’s vehicle ran over the protesters resulting in the death of four demonstrators, a charge denied by the Minister. The violent clashes have injected fresh political vitriol into protests that have plagued the country ever since the Centre introduced the contentious farm laws in the name of protecting the interests of small farmers and reforming the agriculture sector. There must be an impartial and thorough probe into the Lakhimpur Kheri violence and the guilty must be punished, irrespective of their political affiliation. At the same time, the ugly political blame game on such a human tragedy must stop. Leaders of the opposition parties, particularly from other States, should desist from making a beeline to the violence-hit district to garner political mileage out of the unfortunate incident.

With Assembly elections due early next year in Punjab and Uttar Pradesh, where farmers’ protests have been raging, it is doubtful whether any sincere attempt will be made to find a political solution to the crisis. In January this year, the Supreme Court had stepped in and suggested to the government to put on hold the implementation of the new laws to enable wider negotiations with farmers and other stakeholders. Farmers are now looking up to the apex court to resume hearing the petitions challenging the legality of the farm laws and issue an order that could be binding on the government. The opposition to the farm laws has been widespread because they are not only detrimental to the interests of farmers but also amount to usurping the powers of the States. To break the deadlock, the Centre must first unequivocally agree to provide a legal guarantee to the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for various crops. This would help address the key concern of the farming community. There is a need to tone down the rhetoric from both sides and repose faith in the process of dialogue to find an acceptable solution.