Modi govt has no sincerity in finding a lasting solution to the issues, writes ARUN SRIVASTAVA.
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The Supreme Court has advised the Modi government to constitute a panel having representatives from the Centre as well as the farmers' unions to end the dead lock between the two parties over the three new farm laws.
The observation of the court "your negotiations with protesting farmers have not worked apparently till now" makes it explicit that the court has been aware of the ground realities. Obviously in this backdrop where the government is obstinate to have its way, this kind of advice may lose its relevance.
The Court should have at least asked the government to place before it the facts and reasons which created a hindrance in the path of reaching a solution.
The farmers' have been agitating for the complete revocation of the three black laws. If they were in favour of some stray changes and amendments, then by now the matter would have settled and the farmers, like the ministers of the Modi government, would have been enjoying winter in their houses instead of suffering on the Delhi streets in the chilly cold of December.
“The Court should have at least asked the government to place before it the facts and reasons which created a hindrance in the path of reaching a solution.
It was expected of the court that it would come out with some kind order to salvage the situation. But it did not happen. It allowed the suffering farmers to fend for themselves.
The three judge bench of the Supreme Court should have looked at the three laws from the broader perspective. The matter has wider implication; whether the farmers have the fundamental rights in India to survive and live a respectful life? Or, are they supposed to subservient to the corporate sector who will lord over and dictate their lives?
For argument's sake, if the panel fails to offer an amicable solution, then in that case what will the court do? Will it direct the farmers to accept the dictates of the Modi government? Significantly the court has not fixed a dead line, by which time the government should find a solution.
So far, Narendra Modi's ministerial colleagues have held five rounds of talks with the farmers but the deadlock continues. The cabinet ministers negotiating with the farmers could not dare to against the wishes of Modi.
The government is not at all interested in solving the issue is clearly manifest in the contemptuous remark made by the Solicitor General Tushar Mehta who told the bench "Different ministers talked to them. But they turned their chairs back and did not talk to them". How could he come out with this nature of observation when the farmers in response to the calls from the agriculture minister met him on five occasions? It was the minister who did not accept the farmers view.
“If they were in favour of some stray changes and amendments, then by now the matter would have settled and the farmers, like the ministers of the Modi government, would have been enjoying winter in their houses instead of suffering on the Delhi streets in the chilly cold of December.
It was really unfortunate for the farmers that the vilification campaign that has been launched against them evaded the attention of the court.
Modi's desperation was visible during the 21 day of the agitation when he, while trying to divide the farmers, used the word progressive for those farmers who shifted their loyalty to him.
To launch fresh diatribe against the farmers, Modi on Sunday chose his home state Gujarat as the best place. He flew to Kutch for discussing the farm laws and reforms instead of inviting the farmers observing hunger strike nearer his house in Delhi for talks. It is really intriguing that Modi who has been accusing the opposition of misleading the farmers has not bothered to explain why the farmers do not trust him.
It is purely the case of loss of trust in him and his government that the farmers want MSP should be legalised. They are not ready to believe his words.
If doing away with MSP was never the intention of the government, then why are Modi and his ministerial colleagues making it a prestige issue? Why has a vilification campaign been launched against the farmers? Whose interest do they intend to serve by resorting to a vilification campaign?
The charge of the farmers that Modi has been acting at the behest of the corporate sector has, for the first time, been corroborated by the observation of the former FICCI president and Vice-Chairman of Bharti Enterprises Rajan Bharti Mittal. Addressing FICCI members, he promised all help to the government in its fight against the farmers and also assured, "please don't step back. The industry will back you up."
“For argument sake, if the panel fails to offer an amicable solution, then in that case what will the court do? Will it direct the farmers to accept the dictates of the Modi government? Significantly the court has not fixed a dead line, by which time the government should find a solution.
It was only yesterday that Modi's blue-eyed boy, Minister Piyush Goyal confessed publicly that the new farm laws were pro-corporate rather than pro-farmer when he said that the bills had been enacted to encourage trade in food.
It is a matter of serious concern that nearly 20 farmers lost their lives on the streets of Delhi while participating in the agitation. While Modi has been accusing the opposition of misleading the farmers his ministerial colleague, Piyush Goyal alleged that the movement has been "infiltrated by Leftist and Maoist elements and anti-national elements". His statement is precursor to grounds being prepared for finishing the agitation.
“It was really unfortunate for the farmers that the vilification campaign that has been launched against them evaded the attention of the court.
Strange enough Narendra Modi has expressed his ignorance over the real reasons of protests. Is it that he really does not know the reasons for protest? In fact, his expression of naiveté is a mechanism to encourage his people to vilify the farmers and their agitation. His usual rhetoric is, he fails to understand why the farmers were resorting to this movement as the laws will liberate them from poverty and provide them a prosperous future. Obviously why should a farmer refuse to accept the laws which promise him a bright future?
But farmers' continuing to agitate implies that there is something seriously wrong, which is why the farmers are not willing to agree to his overtures. As the leader of the country, it is the prime duty to of Modi to sit with the farmers and sort out the issues.
While Modi and his ministerial colleagues have been brandishing them as anti-nationals, some cabinet ministers have also been indulging in a brain game.
The agriculture minister Narendra Singh Tomar claims to have been meeting one farmer union every day.
“Addressing FICCI members, he promised all help to the government in its fight against the farmers and also assured, "please don't step back. The industry will back you up."
This exercise reminisces the tactics adopted by the Indira Gandhi government during emergency days when, on an average, leaders of at least one organisation would meet her every day and pledge its support.
A few farmers' union too have been supporting the three farm laws and extending support to government's gesture. Interestingly, none of these farmers' body have been part of the 40 odd farmers' groups that launched the agitation and had attended the recent rounds of talks with the Centre without any breakthrough. If sources are to be believed, then the government even arranges for printing their letter heads and supplies them with the identity cards.
Does Modi really believe that farmers are gullible and naïve?
He accuses that previous Congress government did not implement the laws and carry out agricultural reforms. The reason is simple, like him, the UPA governments were not in a hurry and preferred to wait for some more time to give a human face to the reforms and did not intend to create a parallel market which would ruin farmers. But Modi created a parallel market to serve the vested interest of his corporate friends.
It is really ridiculous that he was defending a law which would make APMC mandis obsolete, even if they do not state so explicitly.
“Strange enough Narendra Modi has expressed his ignorance over the real reasons of protests. Is it that he really does not know the reasons for protest? In fact, his expression of naiveté is a mechanism to encourage his people to vilify the farmers and their agitation.
According to data, only 6 per cent of the farmers in India are fully covered by the MSP, and the rest 84 per cent are located in Punjab and Haryana. It is a widely known fact that farmers of Punjab and Haryana are the most well off.
It is beyond comprehension how a prime minister could fool his own people for serving the interest of a few of his corporate friends.
Meanwhile the defiant satyagrahis hardening their stance announced "The government is saying 'we won't repeal these laws'; we are saying we will make you do it. The fight has reached a stage where we are determined to win no matter what". (IPA)
(Arun Srivastava is a senior journalist. Views are personal.)