Thegovernment is having a tough time in facing the farmers' agitation, whichentered its 18th day on Sunday, even though the protesters are not willing torelent till the Centre repeals the three new farm laws enacted in September.
Despiteseveral rounds of talks with the Centre, the farmers are adamant on their firstand major demand that the contentious farm laws be repealed. The agitatingfarmers' unions have also circulated a message among their cadres across thenation to make India a "toll-free" country.
UnionAgriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar has communicated a fresh message tothe farmers' leaders about the Central government's sentiments and the stepsbeing taken for their welfare. He said the government brought the three farmlaws only to protect the interests of the farmers and it is adopting all thepossible measures to make the agriculture sector more prosperous.
Thisis not the first time the government is facing such type of situation. Lastyear also the government had faced a nationwide protest against the Citizenship(Amendment) Act, particularly in Jamia Nagar and Shaheen Bagh in Delhi, withthe latter becoming a synbol of the anti-CAA protests.
TheShaheen Bagh protests drew international attention with the way the women tookto the streets since end December last year, and held fort until the onset ofthe Covid-19 pandemic in March 2020.
Theprotests against CAA also triggered communal violence in North-East Delhi inFebruary this year in which many people lost their lives.
Manystudent leaders and social activists are in jail facing trial for their role inthe anti-CAA stir. The state government had used tough measures to stall theprotests, but was largely unsuccessful in deterring the protesters until theclashes between pro and anti-CAA supporters turned violent in February,triggering riots.
TheShaheen Bagh protest remained largely peaceful barring some unoward incidents.
Thefarmers' protest too has been gaining momentum in the national capital with theprotesters laying siege on the crucial border points surrounding Delhi, keepingthe government on its toes.
Evenafter five rounds of talks, a separate meeting with Union Home Minister AmitShah and a government's written proposal to the farmers accepting their variousother key issues, there has been no breakthrough in the solution to theagitation.
Whilethe government has taken a stiff stand that it cannot rollback the three farmlaws, the farmers are rigid on their stand that repealing the legislations istheir "first and major" demand, terming the laws as "blacklaw", "anti-farmer" and "draconian".
Bothsides are still open to have discussions but they are not ready to compromiseon the issue of the three laws -- The Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce(Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020; The Farmers (Empowerment andProtection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020; and TheEssential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020.
Thefarmers are proving a tough nut to crack and with majority of the oppositionparties lending their support to them, the government should brace for a harshDecember, just like last year.