When PM Modi launched doubling of farmers income programme five years ago in 2016, farmers of the country were very much excited with great hope for their prospect of assured 'good days' which never came. However, the same year, only an online trading platform was launched which revealed the preference of the government for agri-market reform to agriculture. Nothing substantial was done for the development of agriculture, irrigation, fertilisers, research, and other agricultural inputs. In the same year, a committee was formed to suggest the ways and means for doubling the farmers income, which submitted its final report in 14 volumes in September 2018, just before the beginning of the process of Lok Sabha election of 2019. PM Modi or his fans do not even have the time to read those 14 bulky volumes, not to think about implementing the suggestions it contains. These are still unimplemented even though almost two years of Modi's second term has past.

In the meantime, farmers suffered a lot, which could have shamed Modi. It was reported that a farmer from Maharashtra had sent his meagre earning at the rate of one rupees per kilograms or less for his vegetables to the Prime Minister's fund in protest. It reflected the lost illusions of the farmers and the great humiliation to PM Modi. Farmers lost their trust in Modi and his government.

Modi had different things in mind. Though he tried to show and express his concerns for farmers committing suicides across the country, his government's performance remained dismal, as far as agriculture reform or allied activities in the country is concerned, such as irrigation, fertiliser, and research. It is a real danger for food security in the country which has been risked further in the form of the three laws for agri-market reforms against which the farmers are agitating.

The three laws came into being in the first week of September 2020 after the presidential assent. Though the government claimed these a part of agricultural reform, in truth these are not. Rather these are a part of agri-market reform aiming to bring the corporates to the farm. The Centre claimed that the legislations would benefit farmers, while farmers suspected something else behind the move as well as a potential harbinger of their destruction. Such a situation had come because the Centre showed haste in bringing these legislations without taking anyone in confidence both in and outside parliament. Neither farmers were taken into confidence, nor political parties. One or the alliance partner in the ruling NDA - Shiromani Akali Dal left the government in protest and supported farmers' demand of repealing the three laws. All other political parties in opposition had also opposed the government move. Moreover, the timing of the enactments betrayed the insensitivity and cruelty of the Modi government because it was the peak time of the first wave of Covid-19 when farmers actually needed help rather than the legal sword over their head that made them restive.

Farmers' unions of the country united against the government move and planned a protest rally. Samyukta Kisan Morcha gave a call to Dilli Chalo on November 26. Peaceful farmers from Punjab on their way to Delhi were subjected to administrative cruelty in Haryana where local farmers joined the agitating farmers. Farmers from western Uttar Pradesh also marched toward Delhi. They were not allowed to enter Delhi and police barricaded them at Shinghu, Tikri, and Ghazipur border, where thousands of them are still sitting in protest.

The peaceful protesting farmers drew attention of all sensible persons not only in India but across the world. The US, UK, Canada and several other countries also sympathized with the Farmer, and many who spoke in support of the farmers in the country were booked under sedition. The cruelty of the government did not end here. Agitators were left to fend for themselves under the open sky in the biting cold of December and January. Under severe criticism from all corners, the government floated a narrative that the agitators are supported by terrorist organizations. When it failed, government was morally obliged for initiating talks, but all the 11 round of talks up to January 22, 2021 failed with the government bent upon keeping the controversial laws and farmers insisting on their demand of repealing them. On January 26 farmers were allowed to hold a tractor rally during which a violent incident took place on the Red Fort. It is still a matter of debate as to who sponsored the violence – anti-national forces or the government. Whatever be the truth, the peaceful agitating farmers are still protesting at Delhi borders, braving the scorching sun of the summer and rains brought last week by the severe cyclonic storm. The Centre has been adopting a policy of testing the patience of the agitating farmers to enforce their submission since January 22. Not even initiating talks since then is nothing less than an act of cruelty, given that over 470 farmers have already lost their lives during agitation.

In January, the Centre had offered to suspend implementation of the laws for 12 to 18 months and the Supreme Court had stayed them until further orders. It is indicative of the fact that India can wait for such sweeping reforms for which the country is not yet ready.

Observance of May 26 as a Black Day, though symbolical, showing only resistance rather than the strength of the farmers, has serious ramifications. All non-BJP opposition is supporting the farmers' demand, but agitation is still apolitical. The central trade unions, bank and insurance associations are also in their support along with many others. That thousands more have come to the protest sites, apart from protests at village, blocks, district, and state levels, is a further indication of a serious unrest in making. The Centre must give a second thought to their present strategy which may harm food security of the country. (IPA Service)