The farmers were well-organised, well-informed, assured and self-sufficient. Despite the violence wrought upon them, they were steadfast. The enormous pressure they faced did not deter them. The elements they were well prepared for.The deaths of these farmers – and this can never be emphasized enough – will remain one of this administration’s biggest shames. Modi is sorry that he repealed the farm laws. But he could not – as he could not with the 2002 pogrom under his watch – apologise or acknowledge the suffering caused by his actions.And it has to be admitted even by his well-wishers, also his extreme incompetence. Agriculture in India needs reform. But you cannot do that without the active assistance and inputs from agriculturalists themselves. Modi had started to believe the mythology he himself invented about his omniscience.Of course, it has been obvious from day one of his rule that the top-down know-it-all approach has been a disaster and has only underlined Modi’s incompetence. It has been the spread of hatred, of Islamophobia specifically, which has kept the BJP in power. It has given the party money and influence. All this has given India nothing. It has impoverished millions. It has destroyed our democracy. And it has divided us almost to breaking point.By standing firm for 11 months, without violence and bombast, India’s farmers have showed Modi up. That is why he is sorry. He’s seen the cracks in the image of his own making.Beware the reaction of a cornered…(Ranjona Banerji is an independent commentator. Views expressed are personal)
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