Page:Sharad Joshi - Leading Farmers to the Centre Stage.pdf/235

 agitation where not a single incident of violence took place. He said, ‘It proves that if leaders want, people remain peaceful. Despite some provocations, farmers restrained themselves. In fact the volunteers of the farmers’ Union who called themselves “Kisan Reserve Police” caught about hundred goons themselves and handed them over to the Police.’ A month later, Swaminathan S. Anklesaria Aiyer in his lead article in Indian Express (Monday, 16 April 1984) under the heading “Harvesting Hindu-Sikh amity” wrote: ‘There is reason to be optimistic on this score because of the close co-operation between Sikhs and Hindus in the recent farmers’ agitation in Punjab. The president of the Kisan Union, Mr. Bhupinder Singh Mann and many other office-bearers are Sikhs. But they speak for Hindu as well as Sikh farmers and inducted the services of Mr. Sharad Joshi, a Hindu from Maharashtra, for pressing their demands. They gheraoed Raj Bhavan in Chandigarh and given the trouble in Punjab, the predominantly Hindu population of Chandigarh was initially alarmed by the invasion of the city by farmers, who pitched camps on public places. But it rapidly became clear that the farmers were a highly disciplined lot who took great precaution to ensure that the agitation was non-violent, thanks in part to Mr. Sharad Joshi’s organizational abilities. They were soon playing with the children of the Hindu parents and there were warm hugs and embraces between members of the two communities. It was an education for both sides to chat and learn of each other’s problems. The farmers, used to the informal ways of dropping in on neighbours, soon won the hearts of Chandigarh urbanites.’ However, this historic struggle did not yield the desired outcome. Dr Johl Committee submitted its report before time, but government did not implement it. Nor was it ever published. 214

Q

Sharad Joshi : Leading Farmers to the Centre Stage