A case for PM’s intervention

Though Naresh Tikait, the most visible face of the ongoing farmers protest around the national capital for the last two and a half months, had promised that Delhi, UP and Uttarakhand would be spared from the national ‘chakka jam’ (traffic jam mostly on highways) on 6 February, the government agencies did not take the risk of being in a relaxed mode in their preparation.

 Considering the mayhem, which was unfortunately witnessed on the Republic Day on the streets of Delhi, the bandobast was as watertight as it could be, to ensure that no untoward incident happened. And, therefore, Delhizens at least took a big sigh of relief when the day passed off peacefully. Elsewhere, barring Punjab and in some locations in Haryana, the chakka jam reportedly had no major impact and even local farmer leaders were not seen trying to push the three hour protest to the extremes, as they did on the Republic Day.

A brief spell of symbolic protest going peacefully last week, however, can’t be looked at as a major consolation, considering that the present impasse between the Union government and the protesting farmer organisations seem to be going nowhere. There have been messages from both sides that they are keen for further discussions to resolve the issue. This included a comment early this month from the Prime Minister himself that he is just a call away for the farmer leaders. 

However, nothing concrete has really emerged. And this is unfortunate – more so, in the light of the fact that, being an effective communicator has been a key attribute of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, one of the major factors which catapulted him to the coveted positioning of a pan-India leader (somebody with this credential has emerged after a long time), resulting in the success of the BJP in two successive parliamentary, garnering them a 300 plus seat mandate. A section of commentators and observers are quite baffled as to why he is not coming into the picture to resolve the issue? That too, when the government has made its intentions clear that it is ready to go to the extent of putting on hold the contentious laws for one-and-a-half year (the apex court has already stayed them).

There are different theories, however, about why the government is resorting to testing the protesting farmers’ patience, rather than opting for something which may result in an expeditious resolution through the PM’s intervention. The government seems to be fairly convinced that the farm laws are path-breaking and much-needed to usher in India Agriculture 2.0 regime – something that has remained pending (endless discussions notwithstanding) even three decades after India chose to embrace reforms in services and manufacturing, but not in agriculture, because it has always been treated as a holy cow. 

But, with other Opposition parties now rallying behind the protestors, coupled with the digital salvos fired via twitter and other social media platforms by the so-called celebrities across the world (not to forget the support of associations still nurturing the dream of an independent Khalistan operating in the UK and Canada), the government is clearly looking at the protest as part of a larger international conspiracy to destabilise India.

That the farmer leaders are asking the repeal of these laws point blank, without offering any alternative suggestion is often identified as unwarranted obstinacy, fuelled by vested interests. Secondly, those within the government are clearly of the view that this protest is region-specific and will not effectively spread out to the pockets, which have emerged as new agri-zones (primarily on the basis of their horticulture strength), without relying on MSP support system.

There is no denying that these laws are indeed progressive and capable of bringing a remarkable change in the agriculture and allied sectors. But, somehow,  the way it panned out has left a bad taste in the mouth of everybody and, international conspiracy theories notwithstanding, India’s democratic credentials has certainly taken a beating, with images of restrictions imposed at Delhi’s borders flashing out everywhere.

The government could have clearly handled it more effectively, since it had a leader at the helm, with oratorical skills unmatched among the present bunch of political leaders across the party line. But, somewhere, it has turned into a battle of ego for both sides, which shouldn’t have been the case. To resolve the impasse, it certainly  now merits the prime minister to lead from the front and communicate that the farm bills are indeed defining and the government is ready to discuss it further to dispel all doubts, now that it has extended it by another one and a half year. It would hardly be seen as a defeat; rather, it would be looked at as a decisive retreat by an elected government to take everybody along.