Farmers’ protest: With talks hitting roadblock, ruling BJP looking for ways to split unity of agitators

Resorting to the peaceful Gandhian Satyagrah or protest is the biggest crime in India. For last two months the Narendra Modi government has been tolerating the Gandhian Satyagrah of farmers, but he is no more willing to endure it. So far the IT cell and some leaders of the BJP have been threatening and maligning the farmers and their leaders, but now the Modi government is unwilling to maintain any restraint and has virtually declared a war against them.

During the last two months of the farmer’s agitation, the government-held 11 meetings with them, but on all occasions the agitators were told in clear words that the government will not repeal the three black agriculture laws. Government holding meetings with the farmers was construed by some people as the sign of its weakness. But in reality that was not.

After Friday’s failed meeting of 11th round, the government has shown its resolve to confront them. And on a single day three farmers leaders, who have been quite vocal in demanding abrogation of the laws, were targeted. While one senior leader ManjinderSingh Sirsa has been arrested, another Darshan Pal is being trolled by the BJP IT cell and the third leader RakeshTikait is being threatened with dire consequences once he returns to his home state. Every attempt is being made to frighten the leaders. Though the farmers have been regularly complaining to the agriculture minister Narendra Singh Tomar about the abuses and insults being hurled on them by the BJP leaders, he has never taken them seriously. He always adopts a dismissive approach.

Modi and his party colleagues have made it explicit that the government will not succumb to any protest and will implement its programme even if it is against the interest of the people. While Modi apparently has been maintaining the façade of trying to assuage the feelings of the public, he actually continues to pursue his mission to serve the vested interest of his corporate friends.

Any other prime minister might have preferred to rescind the three laws seeing the sufferings and death of 140 farmers. But Modi is unmoved. He has his own agenda which is much bigger than the agenda of the farmers, who according to the BJP ministers and its leaders, are being impelled by the Naxalites and Khaistanis. Modi dislikes looking weak or appearing to cower under pressure. The approach of the government is clearly manifest in the observation of the senior advocate Harish Salve before the Supreme Court “the halt shouldn’t be seen as a “political victory”, and that the protesters shouldn’t feel they have “won this round”.

No one should nurse the view that the farm laws would not become a reality anytime soon.

Like the Citizenship (Amendment) Act of 2019 which has gone out of the political discourse soon the three farm laws will lose the peoples’ attention. CAA is now the part of the history. Government engaging in talk is the strategy to tire the farmers.

After the eleventh round remained inconclusive, the government did not fix the date for the next meeting. Now the farmers would have to intimate the government when they intend to discuss the issues. Agriculture minister told the farmers that too through the media, “If you reach a decision, inform us. We will discuss it again.” What does it imply?

It is also clear that farmers after two months of sustained protest could not accept the defeat. They have to assert, and that has to be done in a decisive manner. But the main question is how? The future of the farmers also depends on the success of the January 26 tractor parade. Shockingly a section of media has already started maligning the tractor parade.

Even on Friday, the minister said there are no problems in the farm laws but the Government preferred to suspend them as a sign of respect for farmers. The minister continues to be non-committal on the issue of repealing the laws. The meeting on Friday lasted for nearly fifteen minutes. “The minister made us wait for three and a half hours. This is an insult to farmers. When he came, he asked us to consider the government’s proposal and said that he is ending the process of meetings”, said a farmer leader.

A closer look at the events makes it apparent that the government was in an advantageous position. With Supreme Court maintaining a non-committal approach, the situation has turned murky. The government is pursuing the politics of two step forward, one step backward. It is only cautious of the observation of the RSS leadership which has urged the government to be sensitive and end the farmers’ protests. Modi and his aides apprehend that it could embolden the “disapproving voices” inside the party.

Independent India has not witnessed this nature of movement. If the farmers fail in their mission, the country cannot aspire to have any movement in future and also the left and democratic forces will be finished forever. This is not an attempt to paint a dark picture. The right-wing forces will not allow space to the democratic aspirations.

Nevertheless it was inspiring to listen to Harpal Singh, President of Bhartiya Kisan Union say "Even if we accept the government's offer, our fellow brothers sitting at Delhi borders will not accept anything other than a repeal of the laws. They will not spare us, what achievement will we show to them?" He also questioned the government's credibility, alleging it was difficult to believe that they will keep their word on putting the laws on hold for 18 months. "We will die here but we will not return without getting the laws repealed," Singh said. The Congress President Sonia Gandhi too said; “the government has shown shocking insensitivity and arrogance going through the charade of consultations".

(IPA Service)

(Views expressed are author’s own)