Modi's dilemma: Will farmer protests be his Thatcher or Anna Hazare moment?

Modi can retreat like Manmohan Singh did under pressure from Anna movement, or push farm reforms in Thatcher style. His choice will determine national politics going ahead

Topics
farmers protest | Narendra Modi | Bharatiya Janata Party

Shekhar Gupta 

Shekhar Gupta

Has the farmers’ blockade of Delhi brought Narendra Modi to his Thatcher or Anna moment? It is up to Mr Modi to answer that question as India waits. It will write the course of India’s political economy, even electoral politics in years to come.

For clarity, a Thatcher moment would mean when a big, audacious and risky push for reform, which threatens established structures and entrenched vested interests brings an avalanche of opposition. That is what Margaret Thatcher faced with her radical shift to the economic Right. She locked horns with it, won, and became the Iron ...

Dear Reader,


Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance.
We, however, have a request.

As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed.

Support quality journalism and subscribe to Business Standard.

Digital Editor

First Published: Fri, December 04 2020. 23:09 IST
RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
.