Shaheed Sandeep Singh Sidhu

March 22, 2023

In November 2020, when life was beginning to return to normal and people were regaining their sense of joy and contentment, the government implemented three farming laws that led to renewed protests in Punjab. While it was widely acknowledged that India's previous system, which incentivized farmers to produce a significant surplus of grains, needed to be reformed, protesters argued that the rapid implementation of these restrictions and the magnitude of the adjustments required could lead to a crash in grain prices.

There was a widespread belief that India's existing farm laws required an update and that the country's food grain market needed to be made more open. The new legislation allowed farmers to sell their produce in regions where they had previously been unable to do so, among other things. Objecting to these regulations may seem illogical, as it appears that the government is providing farmers with more choices. However, these prerequisites can only be met if all other conditions remain constant. Farmers, in order to have confidence that all other factors will remain unchanged, would have to trust the government, which they certainly did not, and with good reason.

Shaheed Deep Sidhu and his role in the protest

The farmers' protest in India, which lasted for one year and four months, is one of the longest protests in recorded history. It left a lasting scar and painful reminder for the Indian people that they can never rely on their government. The Indian government responded to the largest protest in its history with dictatorial methods and all its might. The international community finally took notice of the Indian government's undemocratic practices, including press censorship, journalist arrests, internet blackouts, and brutal crackdowns on peaceful protestors. Social media platforms were filled with hatred, prompting Twitter to remove a post from Indian actress Kangana Ranaut that called for the protesters to be ethnically cleansed. In addition, Twitter deactivated 500 accounts that advocated for a revival of the tragic 1984 Indian pogroms.

 In analyzing the Farmer's Protest, it is imperative to consider the role of Sandeep Singh Sidhu, popularly known as Deep Sidhu, who emerged as a vocal supporter of the farmers during the demonstrations. Hailing from the Muktsar region of Punjab, Sidhu shared a personal friendship and political affiliation with BJP MP Sunny Deol, actively participating in the latter's election campaign for the 2019 Lok Sabha. However, following Sidhu's involvement in the farmers' demonstrations, Deol distanced himself from the actor-turned-activist, stating that he had no association with him. Such considerations shed light on the complex political dynamics underlying the Farmer's Protest.

CNN News-18 has reported that Sidhu's involvement in the Farmer's Protest gained prominence after he was accused of inciting violence during a Republic Day protest on January 26, 2021. Specifically, Sidhu was charged with encouraging demonstrators to hoist the farmer flag and the Sikh religious emblem, "Nishan Sahib," at the Red Fort during a tractor rally. Following clashes between protesters and police, several Delhi Police officers sustained injuries. In February 2021, Sidhu was arrested on allegations of being the "main conspirator" of the violence, but he was granted bail on April 17 after spending approximately 70 days in police custody. Speeches and interviews with Sidhu have highlighted the lack of planning and preparation by organizations leading the rally, with Sidhu being unfairly blamed for the issues that emerged. This development was a direct consequence of the Farmer's unions and organizations' failure to provide effective leadership. It has been noted that among the younger generation, Deep Sidhu was regarded as a leader who was deeply committed to the cause of the farmers' protest, displaying a willingness to make significant sacrifices in furtherance of this objective. However, Sidhu was subsequently labeled a traitor and incarcerated.

Following his arrest, Deep Sidhu's actions were subsequently viewed from a different perspective by many people in Punjab, and he was celebrated as a hero among the younger generation. However, his victory over the government and the public was short-lived, as he was murdered in a car accident in February 2022. Following his passing, members of the international Sikh community publicly voiced concerns that Sidhu was assassinated by the Indian government because of his advocacy for Sikh sovereignty, with details surrounding his death raising questions about the cause. In particular, the photographs of Sidhu's car's interior that were circulated online played a significant role in contributing to this belief among some people. Additionally, a Zee News reporter reportedly claimed that a bottle of alcohol was discovered in the back seat of the car the day after Sidhu's accident, but nearby witnesses' recordings showed that no such bottle was present. The circumstances surrounding Deep Sidhu's death have sparked speculation and raised questions about the Indian government's possible involvement. Reports suggest that Sidhu's clothing changed from trousers to jeans after his body was taken from the crash to the morgue, adding to the inconsistencies surrounding his death. The Indian government has a history of persecuting Sikh activists and employing fake automobile accidents to assassinate individuals perceived as threats to their power. Sidhu's support for Khalistan and Sikh sovereignty made him a notable figure in the movement and potentially a target for the government. Moreover, Sidhu's advocacy for a free Sikh homeland posed a threat to the existing power structure. These factors have led many to believe that Sidhu was murdered by the Indian government.

Deep Sidhu will be forever remembered as a martyr who sacrificed his life for the land he deeply cherished. 

Lovepreet Sandhawalia