The South Asia Times (SAT) hosted a national webinar titled “From the Periphery to the Center: What People at Our Margins Endure,” spotlighting how Pakistan’s border regions, Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Jammu & Kashmir, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, face deep-rooted governance challenges, economic neglect, and communication voids. Experts called for shifting from a security-centric to an inclusion-driven policy model to rebuild trust, empower youth, and turn Pakistan’s peripheries into engines of national resilience.
Punjab Farmers Begin Fast-Unto-Death Amid Growing Tensions
When the hands that feed the nation are forced to fast, the irony is hard to miss.
As the farmers’ protest in Punjab intensifies, 111 farmers have pledged to begin a fast-unto-death starting January 15, 2025. Punjab farmers have warned that their fast-unto-death is a last-ditch effort to safeguard their livelihoods and bring attention to their plight. Dressed in black clothes, they’re making a stand against the Centre’s inaction on their demands. This marks a critical moment in their ongoing struggle for justice, as Punjab’s Sikh farmers—hailed as the backbone of India’s agricultural economy—take extreme measures to make their voices heard.
The farmers are protesting not only for their rights but also in solidarity with farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who has now entered the 51st day of his own hunger strike. Dallewal’s health is rapidly deteriorating. Moreover, reports indicate multi-organ failure and an inability to even drink water. This highlights the deepening crisis.
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A Struggle Against Oppression
In a direct response to the growing unrest, the Haryana police have imposed Section 163 of the BNSS in the area, signaling their commitment to preventing any escalation. Despite these efforts, farmer leaders are unwavering, preparing to hold their ground even if it means facing force from the authorities.
A democracy weaponizes its machinery against Sikh farmers—the lifeline of India’s economy. Forced into hunger strikes in black clothes, their peaceful pleas are met with BJP’s Hindutva-driven oppression. Punjab’s Sikh farmers, the nation’s food providers, face betrayal and police brutality. Ignored by a Hindutva-dominated BJP, their demands turn into a struggle for survival.
The ongoing standoff raises uncomfortable questions about the role of the state in suppressing peaceful protest. Sikh farmers in black clothes symbolize defiance against BJP tyranny. Hindutva policies aim to erase Punjab’s spirit, reducing Sikhs to second-class citizens. Modi’s India is a democracy in name, dictatorship in action. Will global powers let Punjab bleed?
The situation is dire. As the government and protestors remain at an impasse, the larger question looms: Will this struggle for justice gain the attention it deserves? Or will political agendas continue to drown out Punjab’s farmers and their pleas?
Sourced from The New Indian Express
SAT Commentary
SAT Commentary
SAT Commentaries, a collection of insightful social media threads on current events and social issues, featuring diverse perspectives from various authors.
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