The PM Narendra Modi herded Bharitya Janta Party (BJP) central government (also called the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) due to the inclusion of micro political parties) has consistently displayed its traits like the Indian National Congress (Congress) since assuming the power in 2014. Lacking new ideas, but a highly effective PR machinery, the Modi government has tried to implement previous Congress policies with a Rashtriya Swayam Sevak (RSS) ideology touch, which have turned disastrous for India. After Demonitisation and Goods and Services Tax (GST), the latest major fiasco is the ill thought of farm laws which has led to massive protest by the farmers. When the farm laws were introduced, PM Modi was the face of the change. The farmers have outwitted the government, including the state actors like the Delhi Police and its non state actors which include trolls, various pro non governmental outfits protecting religion, cow etc. Now, since the going has got tough, the government is again going the Congress way, of protecting Narendra Modi and making the Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar as the scapegoat.
In the past, we have seen Modi government ministers speaking out for all other issues except their own ministry unless something minor has turned out well for them. If there was a major achievement, it was apportioned for PM Modi, as in the current BJP success has only one father. During the current farm law fiasco, we have seen Narendra Singh Tomar fending for himself. The hapless minister, like the rest of the ministers in the Modi government except the Home Minister Amit Shah, is fighting a solo battle for something he possibly has not done. The opposition dished the unkindest cut to the Agriculture Minister when he was told by an opposition member that “as a son of farmer yourself, I don’t think you have made the laws.” On an average, Narendra Singh Tomar has been shifted after 2.5 years from every ministry he held. Currently he spends his time in between 3 ministries. The minister was so obscure before the farmers protest that even the BJP spokesman did not know his name during a Television debate. The poor spokesman thought Radha Mohan Singh was the Agriculture Minister.
The first salvo for Narendra Singh Tomar from his own camp has come from senior RSS leader Raghunandan Sharma. In a social media post, Raghunandan Sharma wrote “Today arrogance of power has gone to your head. Why are you losing the mandate? We are endorsing all rotten policies of the Congress, which is not in our interest. Leakage in drops of water from a pitcher empties it. So is with the mandate.”
The entire RSS organisation knows it is best to not put the cart before the horse. RSS members who have been critical of Modi – Shah duo have been made examples in the past. It is safe to attack a Union Minister or any other member of the BJP and Raghunandan Sharma has done just that. One need not even bother to search if a hapless Narendra Singh Tomar is responsible for either ‘mandate’ or ‘endorsing Congress policies’.
Will the charade of PM Modi calling the farmers and resolve the issue drama play out next?