The PM showed a liberal heart by repealing the laws; now the farmers should show their heart and respect the mandate of a healthy democracy
Now that farmers have packed their tents and tarpaulins and gone back home, it Is noteworthy to take a fresh look at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s surprise decision of November 19 to announce the withdrawal of the three farm laws which had agitated the farmers.
By withdrawing the them, the Prime Minister surprised the agitating farmers and stunned opposition parties which were trying to capitalize on the farmers’ distress to meet their political ends. The PM not only accepted the farmers demands but also apologized to them. It added to the PM’s stature in the eye of the common man.
By conceding to the farmers, the PM lived up to the highest ideals of a vibrant democracy, where the will of the people is supreme. Just like in Ram Rajya, where Lord Ram shunned Sita when tongues wagged about her innocence, PM Modi dumped the farm law when a certain section of people questioned its wisdom and attached sinister motives behind it.
Mahatma Gandhi had also started the “Non-cooperation Movement” to free the country from British rule, but after the “Chauri-Chaura” incident, Gandhiji also withdrew the movement. In the same way, PM Modi also decided to withdraw the agriculture law. It is the duty of the farmers and every citizen of this country to boycott the traitors, small gangs, and protestors who were trying to fish in troubled waters.
The so-called farmers insulted the national flag on the occasion of Republic Day on January 26, 2021. There was surely an anti-national conspiracy in the name of the farmers’ movement. This is a reflection of the goodwill of Modi who constantly tried to convince the so-called farmers without using any coercive methods.
In the past, many agitations were suppressed with force and barbarity. In 1974, Lok Nayak Jayaprakash Narayan called for a “Total revolution” against the corrupt policies of Congress. When the Congress felt the heat of the JP movement, Indira Gandhi declared Emergency in the country only to save her government.
Apart from this, during Operation “Blue Star”, Indira Gandhi crossed all limits of cruelty and gave go-ahead to carry sacrilege at the holy shrine of Sikhs in Amritsar. In 1994, India witnessed the massacre of Sikhs for three consecutive days. Several Congress leaders were involved the killing, but Indira Gandhi or Congress never apologized for all this. On the other hand, Modi acted with restraint and patience and adopted the path of peace and forgiveness.
The steady and determined personality of Modi was also seen when the serial bomb blasts during the Hunkar rally in Patna in 2013. He managed the crowd by standing on the stage even in those adverse circumstances. In this rally, the people of India saw the courageous personality of Modi and after this very rally, he emerged as a national hero like Lok Nayak Jayaprakash Narayan and was cemented in the hearts of the people of the country.
Since taking oath as the Prime Minister in 2014 and till now, all the decisions of Modi have been in the full interest of the nation. This shows that there is no difference between the words and deeds of Modi. His government is living by the vow of Sabka-Saath, Sabka-Vikas, Sabka-Vishwas and Sabka-Prayas.
The USA which once humiliated Modi by not welcoming him on its soil is today ready to roll out the red carpet for him. Every head of the nation is proud to share the stage with Modi. India has also done a wonderful job in tacking the corona crisis and carried out record vaccination. The Modi government will be remembered for resolving the age-old Ram Janam Bhoomi dispute and taming the reign of militancy in Jammu and Kashmir by repealing Article 270. The law against triple talaq and Citizenship Amendment Act are two other major decisions of the Modi government, which will be remembered for long.’
In today’s modern era, if India is seen leading the whole world, then it is due to the tireless effort of Modi. Just as PM Modi has shown a liberal heart by withdrawing the three laws, in the same way the farmer leaders should show their big heart and respect the mandate of a healthy democracy. At the same time, the opposition parties and leaders looking for the political opportunity in this movement should also show their maturity.
(The writer is the Provincial Vice President of BJP, Bihar, and Member of the Bihar Legislative Council. The views expressed are personal.)