The Union government, while dealing with the farmers’ protest against its three contentious farm legislations, even after the seventh round of protracted and fruitless discussions on January 4 has not budged from its earlier stand. The agitating farmers have, from day one, been insisting that they want nothing less than repeal of the controversial laws and they iterated the same demand at the last talk. But, the government repeats that it won’t concede and would only discuss the legislations clause by clause. Its strategy is seemingly to tire out the farmers, test their ability to suffer the pain of sitting at the borders of the capital for weeks in freezing cold, rain and hail and break their will to continue their protest.
The government seems to presume it knows better than the farmers as to what is good for them. Hence, its stand that the legislations are in the interest of the farmers which may at best be tinkered with here and there remains steadfast. The statement of Union agriculture minister Narendra Singh Tomar that “it takes two hands to clap” on the 40th day of the agitation betrays the same stand.
On the other hand, a section of the Corporate world accused of being the main beneficiaries of the new laws has started showing an honourable retreat in the face of hostile farmers ready to hit back with ferocity. This is because unlike politicians they have to think of their hard-earned money and can’t afford to adopt strong posturing like the government.
Distancing itself from the controversial farm laws, one of the largest Corporates of the country, which also is a telecom service provider has, on 4 January, said in a press release that it neither buys food grains directly from farmers nor is in the business of contract farming. It categorically states that it has not done any “corporate” or “contract” farming in the past and “has absolutely no plans to enter this business.”
Obviously, realisation dawned on the company after it suffered huge damage by way of loss of its telecom consumers and destruction of towers in Punjab and Haryana. The farmers gave a call to return the service provider’s mobile phone connections as they are convinced the said company, along with some other corporate giants are behind the three farm laws. The disruption reached a stage that the telecom giant was forced to publicly allege that its rivals were fuelling farmers’ anger against it to harm its business interests. Of the 9,000 tower sites that it has in Punjab, power supply to about 1,800 have been either cut off or disconnected. It surprised many observers that this powerful Corporate had to issue an explanation wherein it has said that it has immense gratitude” and the “greatest respect” for India’s farmers and is committed to do everything to enrich and empower them.
This should be music to the ears of the agitating farmers. But, the government probably thinks that for an honourable retreat, unlike the Corporate giant, it would have to pay a heavy political price. The government probably feels retreating on this issue at this stage might prove that the leadership is not invincible and is anti-farmer and pro-crony-capitalists. As mentioned in this column earlier, it would not dampen the government’s image if, in a democracy, the people’s voice is heard. The present impasse should not be allowed to continue. Every citizen in this country today, whether pro or anti-BJP, is well aware of what the fate of the farmers will be if they go to the Supreme Court. Instead of taking shelter under the SC umbrella, there still is time for the government to bow to people’s wishes.