Blow to Modi

The expression of anger by the Indian top judge against PM Modi’s failure to reach an agreement with the protesting farmers has come as a severe blow to the BJP government that champions the cause of the rich. And it is a major victory for farmers. Several rounds of talks between the agitating farmers and the government have so far proved fruitless. The chief justice said the Supreme Court would pass an order if the two sides failed to resolve the contentious issues. Farmers from all states have been camping in New Delhi in this harsh cold weather. The Indian parliament passed a set of laws in September, which farmers say would spell disaster for them. Farmers have been asking the government to include one single sentence in the agreement: their produce won’t be bought below the minimum support price. The government is unwilling to give in. There might be some other demands too of the agitating farmers. The continuing agitation has further established Modi’s pro-rich stance.

If the new legislation is implemented, it will shoot up food prices. Over the years, the BJP’s policies have resulted in further marginalising the lower middle class. Modi is rigid in refusing the farmers’ demands. The same government has written off thousands of crores of loans of the corporate sector. Besides, firms in the harvest insurance business have earned thousands of crores of rupees in profit. All this has happened when in the past one decade, more than 12,000 distressed Indian farmers have killed themselves after they failed to pay off their debts. Not only has the Modi government massively reduced spending on health and education, it has allowed schools, colleges and universities to increase tuition fee manifold. His policies have been causing disquiet in most segments of society.

Seventy per cent of India’s workforce is engaged in agriculture. However, Modi has only the mantra of Hindutva. His latest slogan is: one village, one temple, one well. Now it is evident his Hindutava politics is giving diminishing returns.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 13^th, 2021.

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