Modi govt remains as unmoved as ever even as farmers’ agitation against farm laws completes 6 months

The farmers' agitation against three farm laws completed six months today on May 26, the day on which Narendra Modi incidentally took oath as Prime Minister of India seven years ago. It may be just a coincidence, but is politically significant as a ‘Black Day’ for all except Modi and his fan club.

This observance as a ‘Black Day’ by farmers is of course purely symbolic, but it is reason enough for stirring the conscience of a prime minister who had assured the country of 'doubling of farmers income by 2022’.

When PM Modi made this promise, five years ago in 2016, the farmers of the country were excited and hopeful of 'good days', but this never happened. However, the same year, only an online trading platform was launched, which revealed the preference of the government for agri-market reform to agriculture. Nothing substantial was done for the development of agriculture, irrigation, fertilisers, research, and other agricultural inputs.

In the same year, a committee was formed to suggest the ways and means for ‘doubling the farmers income’, which submitted its final report in 14 volumes in September 2018, just before the beginning of the process of Lok Sabha election of 2019. But these remain unimplemented it has been almost two years of Modi's second term as PM.

In the meantime, the farmers across the country have experienced massive suffering, which ought to shame the PM.

It was reported that a farmer from Maharashtra sent his meagre earning at the rate of one rupees per kilograms or less for his vegetables to the Prime Minister's fund in protest. It reflected the loss of trust in the Modi govt on part of the farmers.

Modi clearly had different things in mind rather than farmers’ welfare. Though he tried to show and express his concern at reports of farmers committing suicides across the country, his government's performance remained dismal as far as agriculture reform or allied activities in the country are concerned, such as irrigation, fertiliser, and research. It is a real danger for food security in the country, which has been risked further in the form of the three laws for ‘agri-market reforms’ against which the farmers are agitating.

The three laws came into being in the first week of September 2020 after receiving the presidential assent. Though the government that claimed that these laws were part of ‘agricultural reform’, in truth that is not the case. Rather, these are a part of ‘agri-market reform’ aiming to bring the corporates to the farming sector.

The Centre claimed that the legislations would benefit farmers, while farmers suspected something else behind the move as well as a potential harbinger of their destruction. Such a situation had come because the Centre showed haste in bringing these legislations without taking anyone in confidence both in and outside Parliament. Neither farmers were taken into confidence, nor political parties.

One of the alliance partner of the ruling NDA, Shiromani Akali Dal, left the government and the alliance in protest and supported farmers' demand of repealing the three laws. All other opposition parties had also opposed the government move.

Moreover, the timing of the enactment of the laws betrayed the insensitivity and cruelty of the Modi government because it was the peak time of the first wave of COVID-19 when farmers actually needed help rather than a legal sword over their head that made them restive.

Farmers' unions of the country united against the government move and planned a protest rally. Samyukta Kisan Morcha gave a call for ‘Dilli Chalo’ on November 26. Peaceful farmers from Punjab on their way to Delhi were subjected to administrative cruelty in Haryana where local farmers joined the agitating farmers. Farmers from western Uttar Pradesh also marched towards Delhi. They were not allowed to enter Delhi and police barricaded them at Singhu, Tikri, and Ghazipur borders, where thousands of them are still sitting in protest.

The peacefully protesting farmers drew attention of all sensible persons not only in India but across the world. The US, UK, Canada and several other countries also sympathized with the farmers’ cause, even as many who spoke in their support in the country were booked under the sedition law.

The cruelty of the government did not end here. Agitators were left to fend for themselves under the open sky in the biting cold of December and January. Under severe criticism from all corners, the government then floated a narrative that the agitators were being supported by terrorist organizations.

When this failed to pass muster, the government was morally obliged to initiate talks, but all 11 round of talks up to January 22, 2021 failed with the government bent upon keeping the controversial laws and farmers insisting on their demand of repealing them.

On January 26, farmers were allowed to hold a tractor rally during which a violent incident took place at the Red Fort in Delhi. It is still a matter of debate as to who sponsored the violence – anti-national forces or the government. Whatever be the truth, the peaceful agitating farmers are still protesting at Delhi borders, braving the scorching sun of the summer and rains brought last week by the severe cyclonic storm. Over 470 farmers have already lost their lives during the agitation.

The Centre has adopted a policy of testing the patience of the agitating farmers to enforce their submission since January 22, not even bothering to initiate talks.

In January, the Centre had offered to ‘suspend’ implementation of the laws for 12 to 18 months and the Supreme Court had stayed them until further orders. This is indicative of the fact that India can wait for such sweeping reforms for which the country is not yet ready.

The observance of May 26 as a Black Day, though symbolical, showing only resistance rather than the strength of the farmers, has serious ramifications. All non-BJP opposition parties are supporting the farmers' demand, but the agitation is still apolitical. The central trade unions, bank and insurance associations are also in their support along with many others.

That thousands more have come to the protest sites, apart from protests at village, blocks, district, and state levels, is a further indication of a serious unrest in the making. The Centre must give a second thought to its strategy which could well threaten the food security of the country.

(IPA Service)

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