Singhu Incident : What and What not.

What happened at Singhu is neither a caste issue nor a farmers' cause. It is completely a religious and criminal case. Sadly, this issue has been propagated as Kisan vs. Mazdoor, but in the real sense, this is beyond the lines. And even for that matter, both accused and victim are Dalits.

(Photo : Accused Nihang Narayan Singh at his home where a portrait of Baba Saheb Ambedkar can be seen in background.)

Undoubtedly the caste lines are solid in Panjab. But we should make a difference between Panjab and Sikhi. Sikhi doesn't advocate caste and strictly prohibits casteism in any sphere, whereas Panjab has a robust caste system. Unlike Hinduism, the religious texts of Sikhism are anti-caste. Dalits have contributed to Sri Guru Granth Sahib. Dalits were leaders and warriors in many battles of Khalsa Panth. The problem lies mainly in rural society's social locations where the typical Hindutva patriarchal system affects the whole society. Panjab has more than 33% Dalits in the state but hardly owns 3% of the state's agricultural land. Dalits face day-to-day harassment through the hands and minds of upper castes, especially Jatts. The situation is even worst for Dalit women in Panjab.

Even after having a Dalit CM, a Dalit Jathedar of Akal Takht, A Dalit Chief of Police, the active presence of Dalit-Feminist-Left groups, and 33% population, Dalits in Panjab are deprived, backward, and discriminated against.

But there is a 'But.' This 'but' is about our overthinking or curiosity about Dalit issues. Caste violence is a fact, and it is unacceptable. There are hundreds of issues of Dalits vs. Jatts or Majdoor vs. Kisans, but did you try to trace any caste line in this case? We quickly identified the victim Lakhbir Singh as a Dalit. But we didn't see that the accused Sarabjit Singh and Narayan Singh are also Dalits. This issue was purely religious and criminal, like any other emotion where Sikhs have asserted their voices against oppression. Please note that Indira Gandhi, Beant Singh, and Massa Rangar were from upper castes and were assassinated by Sikhs/Nihangs.

It was a sacrilege issue where the victim placed a holy text 'Sarabloh Granth' in the box of a motorcycle placed in a dirty place beside the road. The Nihang Sikhs firstly cut off his left hand and then attacked his leg. He died after 1 hour after the first attack on him.

Panjab witnessed a case of sacrilege of Sri Guru Granth Sahib in 2015. Two Sikhs were killed in a police attack when Sangat was demanding justice regarding sacrilege. Three inquiry commissions were set up, 3 CM governed the state, and many officers joined and quit the game, but justice was not delivered. The incident completed six years, just three days before this Singhu incident. Parallelly it's been 37 years since the 1984 Anti-Sikh Massacre, and from then onwards, Panjab has witnessed a dark phase where thousands of citizens were killed. But no Justice has been delivered till now. 

The motive for mentioning the last paragraph is to request you all not see this Singhu case as an isolated event. Nihangs are celebrating this killing as 'justice' regarding any sacrilege case. 'This is Justice' is their sign throughout this case.

I don't justify any killing as rough justice. This case is no less than a mob lynching and unlawful act. Further, the criminalization of religion is more dangerous, which is in process. Unfortunately, this incident took place at Farmers Protest, and it has presented a negative image of both Farmers Protest/ SKM as well as Sikhi.

But all those who are saying the rhetoric that 'how can any book become so important need to see an answer in their own struggle only. A Valmiki temple was demolished in Delhi, and all the Ambedkarites started a protest against it. The demolition of Babri Masjid was seen as a big attack on Secularism. Baba Saheb Ambedkar's statue demolition is always a question of insult. We shouldn't deny that religious and cultural signs and symbols are an essential and integral part of society. Furthermore, Granths are not just books for Sikhs; it is worshiped as living Guru.

This is a baseless argument that the victim Lakhbir Singh touched the holy text, and since Lakhbir was from an untouchable caste, upper caste Sikh sentiments got hurt. No, there is high social mobility in Sikh society in comparison to others. The Sikh Holy text can also be touched and read by a Dalit. No one can harm the ears of Dalits if they listen to the Sikhi shlokas and Kirtan. In fact, Dalits have a significant contribution to the formation of Sri Guru Granth Sahib.

My maternal grandfather, Nanaji Sardar Veer Singh, was a Dalit and a Paathi (priest) in Gurudwara. Members of all castes used to invite him to perform religious practices. Firstly, there are no Castes in Sikh Philosophy. Secondly, many Panjabi practices Castiesm, but it is not as complex as Hinduism. There is a strong possibility of social mobility in Sikhism. Dalits in Sikhism can touch, listen and read Sri Guru Granth Sahib or any Holy Text.

This proved that it was not caste violence. But it is also proved that it was violence. What is essential to understand here is that it is violence that is induced by the state. The Indian state has been propagating violence against religious minorities. This should also be included in the list as the state has failed to deliver justice through the process of 75 years of constitutionalism. This is why people have started seeking justice in the rules of the 17th-century texts.

The statement made by the upper-caste Sarpanch of the village can be seen as caste abuse. Still, statements made by her sister and her wife need to be taken seriously when they talk about the abusiveness of the victim, and some Sandhu is using Lakhbir Singh for his cause.

India has a rule of law and a criminal procedure code for criminal offenses. This issue should have been treated with the law. Kisan Morcha said in its statement that they are against sacrilege of any religious text or symbol, but that does not give anyone the right to take the law into their own hands. But at the same time, it is high time that our justice system should prove itself for better and timely delivery of justice to the needy.

According to a survey conducted by Punjab Agriculture University, Ludhiana, 7303 farm laborers have committed suicide in 2400 villages of Punjab between 2000 and 2018, which is equivalent to farmer suicide in Punjab. Debt is the leading cause of farm labor suicide. About 80 percent of farm laborers commit suicide because of debt. According to various studies, each family of farm laborers in Punjab has a debt of about Rs 68,000 to Rs 1 lakh per head. This is the essence of the Indian farming model - the suicides of small farmers and farm laborers!

The condition of women farm laborers is even worse than that of women farmers. Dalit farm laborers are living under the burden of patriarchy, wages, caste, and poverty. This section, which plays a leading role in creating a new democratic society, is not even part of the revolutionary program of most agricultural organizations.

While the farming class is a working class and the relations between farmers and farm laborers are relations of 'unity and struggle. When there is anti-labor mechanization in the agricultural sector, there will be a question of mass unemployment for the workers, which will force the workers to commit suicide through oppression.

As of now, the victim's family, Lakhbir Singh, refused to accept the dead body for final rites. 4 Nihangs have surrendered themselves to Police. I'm able to confirm that 2 of them, the main accused, are Dalits. Media reports claim that all of them are Dalits. The head of this Nihang group is also a Dalit.

While media is asking some questions which still remain unanswered :

1. Who brought Lakhbir Singh here at Singhu?

2. What is the proof of sacrilege?

3. Why didn't they hand over the victim to Police?

4. Why is SKM not so vocal and irresponsible?

5. Whatever

But (in a series of too many buts), my single question is also unanswered.

1. Why has the government not repealed the farm laws and enacted a law on MSP?

A deep investigation should be done. This is not an isolated event. Caste is not a rumor; neither it is a shield. Violence is violence. Period. Rough Justice is nowhere justified and fair. 

You and I are stupid who are blaming each other, where the state is successfully playing its divide and rule politics.

- Harinder from Singhu border 

( harenderhappy@yahoo.com)