The prime minister, according to the Union agriculture minister, is dedicated to farmers’ welfare. No pressure can influence his determination to improve their economic condition. Narendra Modi himself has said that his government will keep on working to better the condition of Indian agriculture and has repeatedly declared how excellent the three new farm laws are and how much they will elevate the farmers’ lot. But confronted with a seemingly immovable phalanx of farmers in their thousands positioned at the entry points into Delhi with the demand that the laws be repealed, Mr Modi has adopted a lofty tone of paternalistic benevolence — he believes the protesters do not know what is good for them. He does. Condescension seems to be the best strategy after a first burst of name-calling. The protesters, of whom farmers from Punjab form a large segment, were called ‘Khalistanis’, and ‘urban Naxals’. But that failed to discredit the movement. The farmers responded with dignity and righteous anger, grew in numbers and in unity against what they see in general terms as ‘pro-corporate’ laws, although their list of objections is precise and carefully thought-out, and their reasoning, whether one agrees with it or not, is clear as day.

The prime minister however, claims that they are being ‘misled’ by the Opposition which failed to implement similar laws for farmers’ welfare and ‘fooled’ by those with vested interests. Mr Modi’s superior tone with farmers seems aimed at two goals: one, bashing the Opposition and two, evading the protesters’ demands by insisting they know not what they do. They should not ‘believe the lies’ being spread by politically motivated elements. It seems strange that the prime minister, who is professedly willing to meet the farmers with ‘bowed head’ to resolve their doubts, should have such little respect for the wisdom, hard work and sagacity of those who feed the country and who have incisively taken the new farm laws apart. Sharing this attitude, Rajnath Singh asked farmers to try out the laws for a year or two. Did he think he was speaking to uncomprehending children? But Mr Modi’s smooth expressions of considerate superiority can hardly hide the fact that the government has made no progress in its much-touted ‘dialogue’ with the protesters or convinced them of its positive intentions.