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Taking back Three-Farm Laws- A progressive step for Democracy?

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G Indira
G Indira
Author of the book: The India I Know and of Hinduism. Ex-Publications in -charge Pragna Bharati Organisation, Hyderabad. Academician and free-lancer

The opposition parties in India are happy and contented because they have a feeling that Prime Minister Modi has yielded to agitating farmers by repealing farm-laws. They are hailing that the “democracy” won.  However, repealing farm-laws is an indication that Indian democracy is progressing at a glacial-pace. The prime minister said his party was not able to communicate to farmers effectively on farm-laws. However, in India, people got accustomed to socialism and welfarism promoted by the state rather than by any entrepreneur-ship.

The good opportunity of farm-reforms is lost. For another quarter century, the laws may not see the light. None of the parties venture to bring them back in the near future. The Congress party was at the forefront in saying that farm laws were for benefiting Corporates like: Ambani and Adani. This is the Left narrative, to which the opposition Congress hooked on to. The farming community in India, as a whole, missed the bus.

The agitating farmers, from the beginning, were changing the goal-post. First they said— to fix the minimum support price (MSP). Next, they sought the repeal of three-laws. They never had come to a middle-path in between, when a group of ministers started talking to them. They were intransigent all the while making all talks fail. The farmers demanded the P.M. to speak with them directly. Now, that the P.M. spoke directly and also obliged to their demand. Now, do they relent? Stop the agitation? No. The farmers’ unions under the banner of Samyukt Kisan Morcha announced they would continue with their pre-planned protests on November 22, 26 and 29 at various locations.

What is the use of rollback? They now have several demands: legalising MSP, dropping cases registered against protesting farmers, compensation for the deceased, withdrawal of draft Electricity Amendment Bill, Land at Singhu border to build a memorial for the farmers died in the agitation, resignation of the Union MoS home Ajay Mishra etc. This is how agitators at the end of the day make demands. This is the reason for the slow progress in democracy. No wonder China is pacing fast! None in the opposition tried to convince the farmers regarding their benefits. They said discussion and debates had not taken place in the parliament. Hence, do not support the Govt.’s move. Would any debate in the parliament ever amicably happen to settle things? In debates, opposition opposes, simply because the Govt. proposes. Did the opposition do any constructive discussion at any time? Or any deliberations? On many of the Modi government’s reforms the opposition did not cooperate with? They always tried to scuttle.  

The opposition found fault with labels like: terrorists and Khalistanis to the protesters by some of the cadre and leaders of the ruling. There is an element of truth on what they labelled as. For, in such prolonged/ continued agitations, there is a likelihood of some infiltrators of the kind mentioned entering in. They try to instigate and cause trouble, using farmer-protest to their advantage. Now, that is all put to rest by the prime minister. All ends well, that ends well. 

The repeal of laws has something to do with Utter Pradesh and Punjab elections, is the opinion doing rounds in the opposition camp. But a handful of farmers cannot make a difference in the biggest state like Utter Pradesh. As far as Punjab is concerned, the BJP has no big stakes. In India, there have been slogans like Jai Jawan and Jai Kisan. Indians give love and respect to both Jawan and Kisan. Prime Minister Modi embodies all of India.

That is, he represents: Jawans, Kisans, Corporates, Common Citizens and the underprivileged. He carries with him all sections in the society.  Hence, he showed concern for the farmers, who have been agitating so long. The further continuation of farmers-protests would defame India and its international image as the largest democracy. The international media is giving much coverage to farmers’ protests, damaging India’s credentials. Hence, the action of rollback of farm-laws, shows magnanimity on the part of the prime minister. At a later date and time, after intense debates and discussions things could be set-right again for the smooth passage of laws by this government. At least that is the hope of all pro-reform section.

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G Indira
G Indira
Author of the book: The India I Know and of Hinduism. Ex-Publications in -charge Pragna Bharati Organisation, Hyderabad. Academician and free-lancer
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