The Best Solution To The Farm Dispute
Editor-in-Chief of indiacommentary.com. Current Affairs analyst and political commentator.
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By Sunil Garodia
First publised on 2021-01-08 15:06:04
About the Author
Editor-in-Chief of indiacommentary.com. Current Affairs analyst and political commentator.
View all posts by this Author
The eight round of talks between the government and the farm unions made little headway in resolving the dispute as both sides continued to stick to their known positions. The farmers insisted on the repeal of the laws while the government asked them to present an alternative other than repealing. No side wanted to concede even an inch with the government reminding the farmers that the laws were meant for the entire nation and not only Punjab and Haryana while the farmers said that their ghar wapsi (or withdrawing the agitation) depended on law wapsi (or repeal of the laws).
The way the stalemate has continued, one thinks that the Supreme Court was absolutely correct in saying that left to its devices the Centre would never be able to solve the dispute. The talks are becoming the theatre of the absurd with the same cliches being repeated after each round of talks. The seventh round was an exception when both sides agreed on stubble burning and the amended Electricity Act. But that was neither here nor there as they were minor problems compared to the ones that have prevented a resolution. If anything, these continuous talks have resulted in the farmers hardening their stance and whatever little chance of resolution was there in the beginning seems to be vanishing little by little after each round.
One thinks that the best solution would be achieved now not by discussing the laws that were enacted. Instead, the government must use this opportunity to draft the three laws afresh by taking into account the objections raised by the unions. Then, it must discuss these laws clause by clause with the unions. When all is discussed and agreed to, the government must enact the three freshly drafted laws which would supersede the earlier laws. This way, the contentious issues would be resolved amicably, the unions would go back with their moustaches intact as they would have achieved their aim of getting the laws repealed and the government would, by a sleight of hand, ensure that the original laws get repealed only after a new set of similar law (that are approved by the unions) are in place. This will perhaps satisfy the egos of all involved. More importantly, this seems to be the best solution keeping the national interest in mind.
