The agitating farmers’ unions on Friday rejected the Central government’s proposal to set in abeyance the three revolutionary farm reforms for a period of 18 months and set up a committee in the meanwhile to deliberate upon any and all issues which the protestors are apprehensive of facing in the near future. This marks perhaps the final nail in the coffin of the protests, as the Modi government now has sufficient reason to believe that the agitation has nothing to with agriculture and farmers, but is instead driven by ulterior motives of individuals who wish to stoke chaos in the country.
TFI had yesterday explained how Prime Minister Modi could actually be working to expose the farmers’ unions behind the farmer protests before the entire country as a bunch of groups who do not have the best interests of the farmers in mind. The proposal to hold the implementation of the three farm reforms was a litmus test for the unions to prove their dedication towards achieving a quick resolution to their grievances, which the government is willing to go a very long way to address – much to the disappointment of its supporters in fact.
Now that the protestors and their leaders seem to have rejected the large-hearted proposal of the government, there is really nothing left to negotiate for. The Centre has made it absolutely clear to the unions that there is no question of repealing the three reforms, and suitable amendments may be made to them as per the wants of the farmers. Yet, the unions simply refusing to deliberate on the laws in a clause-by-clause manner made the government grow suspicious – which is why the test was laid down for them. And as is visible, the protestors have grandly failed in the same, and their fate now hangs in the balance.
The farmers’ protests, meanwhile, is causing incredible economic losses in the national capital region. Traders’ body CAIT on Thursday said the ongoing farmers’ agitation in Delhi-NCR has caused a business loss of nearly Rs 50,000 crore so far, which will further serve as a big reason for the government to make a move against the agitators. So far, the farmers’ unions have rejected the government’s proposal on MSP, abeyance of laws, amendments to the reforms, clause-by-clause discussion and also the SC-appointed committee’s endeavour to bring about a resolution between the protestors and the Centre.
This will have any individual with a functional cerebrum thinking about the actual motives of the so-called farmers. Already, prior to the unions’ meeting Friday to discuss the proposal of the government, leaders from the protests were saying that their Republic Day blitzkrieg will go on as planned. Anybody can guess that the Modi government’s patience with the agitators is now wearing thin. Already, the NIA has begun probing over 40 individuals in the Sikhs for Justice case, even as the agency also keeps tabs on Khalistani elements who have infiltrated the protests. Now that the ‘farmers’ have rejected the large-hearted proposal of the Modi government; the Centre would almost have a moral authority of sorts to deal with the agitations in a manner they deem fit.
Contrary to popular perception, it is the unions which are now running out of avenues to get their issues, if any at all, resolved. The Modi government is going a long way to placate the protestors, but if they continue getting on the nerves of the Centre and the people of India – they might just find themselves isolated and left with close to no options but to withdraw the agitations inconsequentially.