NEW DELHI: Encouraged by what they viewed as poor response to the ‘Bharat Bandh’ called by farmers’ outfits protesting against the agri laws, BJP launched into a strong defence of the trio of enactments and called them farmer-friendly while sharpening its attack on the opposition.
"The Centre’s farm laws are farmer-friendly. These will not only increase farmers' income significantly, but also provide economic security to them. Procurement (of farm produce) will continue at MSP... there is no question of ending this mechanism. Mandis (agri markets) will also continue to function as usual," Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said in a statement.
The statement was part of a larger effort which saw senior party leaders like general secretary Bhupender Yadav refuting the "anti-farmer" criticism the opposition has levelled against the three laws and Union minister Smriti Irani launching an attack on opponents for "politicising" the issue.
The attacks were part of the two-pronged effort which saw the government reaching out to protesters on a day when the response to the bandh call seemed to validate saffron strategists' estimate that the demand for repeal of the laws did not have much traction outside Punjab and parts of Haryana.
However, while sources seemed to derive satisfaction from the "tactical blunder" of the farmers and the opposition in calling for a Bharat Bandh, the government was averse to precipitating the confrontation with the protesters and tried to take another stab at resolving the stalemate by drawing out its big gun, home minister Amit Shah, a move that invested the dialogue with a higher degree of urgency and elevated it a few notches and seemed to undergird the assurances the government may make with a solemnity.
Party circles believe that by overplaying their hand, the opposition has expanded the negotiating space for the government. Shah's stepping in signalled an anxiety to utilise the opportunity.
"The government is committed to safeguard the interests of farmers and the new laws will prove beneficial to them," Chouhan said.
Irani attacked the opposition for resorting to canards and "lies" against the laws enacted for the welfare of farmers. "The opposition, which could not get the support of the public through the vote, has come out today to break law and order. The political interference is aimed at creating anarchy in the country,” she said.
Chouhan and Yadav also sought to address specific allegation against the laws, that they would lead to extinction of mandis and would, thus, leave farmers at the mercy of corporate houses. Yadav said mandis would continue to flourish and farmers would continue to enjoy the benefit of MSP. Chouhan said the new laws, while preserving the mandis, seek to enlarge options for farmers to increase their income. "Under the new laws, farmers will benefit as they will be able to sell their produce outside existing mandis at competitive prices," he said.