Dharmendra Jore: Let there be peace and peasants

Oblivious of the Left versus Right skirmish which Mumbai saw many decades ago when Bal Thackerays Shiv Sena declared a war on the communists who were ruling the labour movement the new generation Mumbaikars will have some unexpected show on display today when the CPMled farmers long march tries to lay siege to Mantrayala and Vidhan BhavanThe alarming difference is that then archrival of the Left Sena is now supporting the agitation promoted by the people who the party founder had called antinationals PostBal Thackeray the SenaLeft togetherness finds its genesis in an unprecedented surge of their common enemy the BJP The Sena in Maharashtra is as troubled as the Left elsewhere in the country thanks to BJPs winning waysFarmers are not happy with BJPs ongoing loan waiver and other measures that have been taken to check agrarian crisis The same lot had agitated before the farm loan waiver was announcedThe CPM leaders who were part of negotiations with the government then but dismissed later have given the final call branding the protest a fight to the finish The BJP takes this as a challenge in view of the recent drubbing it gave the Leftists in northeastern statesWalking LeftIt was Sena that came out in support much before the MNS Congress and NCP extended a helping hand to the CPM long march which stands apart from the agitations held in the past by the parties Incidentally NCPs muchtouted Halla Bol statewide agitation ended in Nashik without much ado two days after the CPMled 25000 farmers left for Mumbai under the banner All India Kisan SabhaThe Congress held its own agitation some months ago and joined hands with the NCP during the winter session of the state legislature Sena president Uddhav Thackeray has addressed farmers rallies several timesWhat does give this agitation traction that no other antiBJP agitation has received so far With a negligible panMaharashtra vote share the CPM has pulled a fast one It attracted media attention and got nonBJP parties support by making a long march look like a deprived village moving along a national highwayThe protest is sans star facilities that are seen at events held by the rich parties Here protestors walk on foot and get injured They dont demand vehicles to ease their travel They bring their food for cooking along the way and accept whatever sympathisers offer if they dont have any food left on them They dont demand cosy lodging They sleep under the skies on mats Afresh they walk the very next morningThis should be a culture shock for the seasoned lot of political protesters who get a daily allowance food and booze and travel in swanky buses with the sole purpose of tourism on their mind whenever they set out for a protest or an election rallyLike BJP the CPM also finds its strength in a welltrained party cadre Landless and marginal farmers from Leftinfluenced parts of Thane Palghar and Nashiks tribal region have been powering this particular long marchA fight to the finishIf not allowed by the police and rejected by the government the poor peasants may force their way beyond a restricted zone They may use guerrilla tactics to walk to Nariman Point where they want to stay put for an indefinite period Laying siege by dodging a 5000strong security force may turn Central and South Mumbai into battle zonesIf it happens so then the CPM and all others in Opposition would have their political purpose served They may settle scores with the BJP government blaming it for crushing poor farmers agitation The BJP may have its own way to get even with its archrivalsDo the CPM the Sena the entire Opposition and the BJP want innocent farmers bleeding on the streets and hapless Mumbaikars troubled Considering the massive police strength deployed and intelligence machinery working overtime the BJP government isnt going easy over the CPM march that has a deeprooted hyper antiBJP sentiment inculcated in the agitating farmersWill it work in everybodys favour Neither party should stretch things to the extent where there will be no peace for the public or solution for the distressed farmers We need both peace and peasants BJP seems ready to discuss demands lets see how CPM reactsDharmendra Jore is political editor midday He tweets dharmendrajore Send your feedback to mailbagmiddaycomCatch up on all the latest Mumbai news crime news current affairs and also a complete guide on Mumbai from food to things to do and events across the city here Also download the new midday Android and iOS apps to get latest updates