The horrible and senseless act of violence unleashed by the protesting farmers on the 72nd anniversary of the Indian Republic is a shameful act of defiance and belligerence, which will go down in Indian history as another black day for democracy. It is unfortunate that a peaceful protest for over two months by disgruntled farmers had to end up with acts of violence, stone-throwing, smashing of security barriers, disruption of public life, damage to property and injuries to policemen and protesters, including one death. Such a situation could well have been prevented had there been strict law and order enforcement by the Delhi police. Finally, such sacrilegious acts of violence and defiance also raise several questions as to whether the vision of the founding fathers of our Constitution of ensuring a just and equitable Indian society through the noble ideals of liberty, justice, equality and fraternity, has become a reality even after seven decades of our Republic. Probably it is more easily stated than practiced.
