Series of Tweets by P Sainath on the latest development

Why is it so hard for the media to admit that the farmers at Delhi’s gates represent the largest peaceful democratic protest the world has seen in years – that too, organized at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic? Story link at end of thread.

Prime Minister Modi ‘apologizes’ to the nation not for bringing in obnoxious anti-farmer laws but because, he says, he failed to persuade ‘a section of farmers despite best efforts’ to accept them. So which sections of farmers did he persuade?

The farmers didn’t just fight for repeal of the laws, they fought for the democratic rights, legal security, and civil liberties of every citizen of India. An inspiration to all those resisting bullying and authoritarian intimidation.

The farmers know theirs is a fantastic victory but realize there’s a long road ahead. The larger agrarian crisis and its issues remain unresolved. Still, their unflinching courage and resistance is an inspiration.

The farmers defeated not just the government and corporations, but also thoroughly discredited Big Media. On the farm issue (as on so many others), corporate media functioned as extra power AAA batteries (Amplifying Ambani Adani +).

Mr. Modi made seven trips overseas this year alone. But found no time to drive down a few kilo meters from his residence to speak to the countless thousands of farmers at Delhi’s gates. Now that would have been a genuine effort at persuasion.

Denying them entry to Delhi, blocking them with trenches, barbed wire and water cannons, converting their camps into little gulags, vilifying them daily – these were the government’s ‘best efforts’ at persuasion? I’d hate to see their worst ones.