Almost four months ago, when the farmer’s protest started, it was actively supported by the Congress government in Punjab and Rajasthan, and Congress machinery in Haryana. In Uttar Pradesh, it does not have any direct influence of the Congress party but Bhartiya Kisan Union, the body leading the protest, has actively supported the Congress on social media platforms.
The primary aim of the farmer’s protest was to build momentum against the Modi government, which has become so popular that BJP actually increased its tally in the 2019 general election despite 5 years of anti-incumbency. Moreover, in states like Bihar, a few campaigns by Prime Minister Modi swayed the elections and therefore, the opposition, for very long, wanted a popular protest against the government. The previous popular protests like anti-CAA ended up making Prime Minister Modi even more popular.
With the farmer’s protest, the opposition ended up playing into the hands of separatists elements and a religious supremacist undertone started emerging. By 26th January, the Khalistani protestors hiding in plain sight as farmers exposed themselves by unfurling Nisan Sahib on Red Fort and disrespecting the National Flag.
The popularity of PM Modi rose to new heights as the Modi government exposed the protestors without taking any tough measures against them. The Khalistani protesters were expecting that given Modi government’s no-nonsense approach to law and order, the law enforcement agencies would be ordered to go after them and this will generate sympathy for them, making the protest even bigger.
But, the Modi government acted smartly and waited until the protestors exposed themselves. After the separatists and religious supremacist agenda of the protestors was exposed, the Modi government took tough measures against the miscreants on the 26th January night. The government, as well as the Delhi Police, got nationwide sympathy for doing their duty smartly and peacefully.
The protestors wanted to diminish the stature of Prime Minister Modi’s, but his popularity soared in the last few months. India Today’s Mood of the Nation Survey, which is conducted twice a year, concluded that 74 percent of the people of the country still stand with Prime Minister Modi and are satisfied with his policies.
“74% per cent of the MOTN respondents have rated PM Modi’s performance as good or outstanding, reiterating the phenomenal popularity rating for a leader now in his seventh year in power,” reads India Today’s Mood of the Nation Survey released two weeks ago.
The Modi government has still held up the offer that it is ready to suspend the farm laws for 18 months. “I want to reiterate what Narendra Singh Tomar told farmers. He said we have not reached to consensus but we are giving you (farmers) the offer and you may go and deliberate. He told farmers that he was just a phone call away,” said PM Modi at an all-party meeting.
However, given the fact that the protestors have not come to negotiate but with the aim to defame the Prime Minister and his government, they would obviously not agree to the proposed solution. And, ultimately, the farm laws will be implemented, and, 5 years down the line, farmers across the country would hail the Modi government for implementing the path-breaking reform as Narasimha Rao’s government is hailed today for starting economic liberalization of industry and services sector.