Modi’s eye (I) on elections not farmers
by abhay mokashi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s announcement that the three farm laws would be withdrawn, shows once again that is he a politician to the core—cheap and third rate.
The announcement to withdraw the Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020, Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020 and Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill 2020, has come not due to the over year-long protests by the farmers in different parts of the country, especially on the boundaries of Delhi. It is clearly with Modi’s eye on the ensuing legislative assembly elections in seven states, especially Uttar Pradesh and Punjab.
The protesting farmers have decided to campaign against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the assembly elections. The farmers campaigned against the BJP in West Bengal during the legislative assembly elections and, the popularity of Mamata Banerjee notwithstanding, the BJP faced a massive defeat in the state.
The farmers unity against the controversial farm laws, is very strong in Uttar Pradesh and Punjab, which is cause for fear of defeat in UP and the inability to come to power in Punjab, for Modi and his party. The party has had setbacks in some states during the recent bye elections in some states.
It is clear that with this in mind, Modi, decided to announce the decision to withdraw the three laws. Given that a large majority of the protesting farmers are Sikhs, he chose Guru Nanak Jayanti to make the announcement. Even while making this announcement, he has exhibited his arrogance. He has not made it clear if the Union Cabinet has taken the decision to withdraw the three laws. He owes an explanation to the nation on the reasons behind his decision and whether he has taken the Cabinet’s sanction to do so. Mostly likely, it has not been done, given Modi’s dictatorial attitude.
The laws cannot be withdrawn with the announcement by the Prime Minister and as he stated, the laws would be repealed in the parliament. Just as a proper discussion was not allowed in the parliament, while passing the bills, it is most likely that the ruling party members will prevent the opposition members to air their views on the bills.
Before announcing that the laws are being withdrawn, Modi spoke about how his government has been working for the benefit of the farmers. If he was so concerned for the farmers and their benefits, he should not have allowed the protest to go on for a year. He should have taken an initiative to have a dialogue with the leaders of the protesting farmers. Instead, he let lose his barking party associates and spokespersons to condemn the peacefully protesting farmers by branding them as Naxalites, anti-nationals, Pakistanis and even mavali (rogues).
The party spokespersons, supported by a large number of media houses and their employees, masquerading as journalists, flayed the farmers, without looking into their grievances. Television debates were hijacked to make people belief that the farmers’ protest was a picnic, with the best of food available and that many were not poor. The effort was to create a public opinion that the farmers are financially comfortable and have no reason to protest.
From today, the same people will start praising Modi for his “democratic” stand and how “he is always concerned” about the welfare of the people.
The problems of the farmers do not end with the announcement by Modi. The demand for a legislation on Minimum Support Price (MSP) still remains and Modi is silent on that. A legislation on MSP will go against the interests of the corporate organisations, who aim to make huge profits on agricultural produce, so it is unlikely that Modi would bring in such legislation.
Yet, the decision to withdraw the laws has to be seen as a victory of a democratic movement, which was peaceful, yet it saw the loss of lives of over 700 protesting farmers. The partial success of the farmers’ agitation should strengthen the faith of those who believe in democracy and rekindle it among those who had doubts.
The public at large, interested in the well-being of all people of India, should get inspired by the farmers and come together to defeat the fascist forces.
On his part, Modi still has an opportunity to apologise to the farmers and all others in the nation for all that they had to go through due to the three farm laws. Modi has the farmers’ blood on his hand and he must apologise for their deaths.
Only a stateman would apologise for the mistakes and failures, a cheap politician will not.