Government needs a PR overhaul

There is no doubt in anyone's mind that Government of India has lost the perception battle in people's mind following Government announcement of its willingness to defer the implementation for 18 months as the protest now spanning months around Delhi border is not showing signs of subsiding. Like every reforms in past has faced opposition the 3 new farm laws passed by Parliament is being opposed vociferously by farmer unions particularly those belonging to Punjab earlier now supported by Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) led by now the face of the protest -Rakesh Tikait-  a Delhi Police constable-turned-farmer leader following in the footsteps of his father - Mahendra Singh Tikait whose rally at Delhi's Boat Club lawns in 1988 forced the erstwhile Rajiv Gandhi led Union Government to accept the union demands. 

Just like how liberalisation reforms where vehemently opposed then by the erstwhile so called Bombay Club led by the erstwhile Industrial stalwarts who had their wealth grown exponentially as they were the benefactors of the erstwhile License Raj system which these groups had ensured remain till 1991 through lobbying similarly the recently 3 Farm Laws allowing farmers to sell their produce anywhere in the country outside APMC markets passed by the parliament are being opposed by farm unions who are brainwashing farmers in creating a theory that government will in few years remove the MSP provision. In the initial days of protest the farm union demands included amending the laws passed by including the sovereign guarantee of MSP provision and it will not be discontinued. Initially Government had golden opportunity to end the protest to accept this demand but the government stuborness added more fuel to the raging fire .This led to farmers now calling for rollback of farm laws.

There is no doubt that the recently passed 3 farm laws are in interest of farmers as existing MSP provision is not discontinued and in fact they are getting additional options to sell their produce. However the present quagmire that Government and now the farm unions are also stuck in following 26 th January Delhi rampage including storming of Red -Fort has come to a situation who will blink first and willing to accept defeat in public perception.

The ruckus of 26th January has diminished the public sympathy which was generated towards farmers as they were camping in winter and as given the Government a face saving exit option. To tackle the brainwashing of farmers in the states of Punjab, Haryana and Western UP , Government needs to involve the stalwarts of all walks of life and show the protesting farmers the advantages of the 3 farm laws. So far Government has not been able to convince the protesting farmers that MSP will continue and not removed in coming years as being spread by farm union leaders.

The present mess which the Government itself finds is classic example how despite having good intention and good governance is not enough until you have a good PR. To tackle brainwashing of farmers by vested interest. Government so far seems to have failed miserably in handling the PR by taking on those who are spreading false fears. The 3 farm laws will end the monopoly of the APMC markets in the districts who were till now monopoly customer. Till now APMC traders were controlling the prices by forming cartels among his peers and the poor farmers till now were being taken for ride because he had no option but to sell at the price willing to be paid by APMC traders as most of the farm produce used to be perishable. All these years the farmer was being taken for ride. The new 3 Farm laws will give the same farmer option to sell his produce elsewhere to any private trader at a price acceptable to both. Earlier the farmer was forced to sell only at designated APMC Markets.

Government strategy of playing waiting game to ensure fatigue creeks in the protest seems to have backfired as the protestors are led by vested interest who have amassed enormous wealth all these years by looting the poor farmers can keep on the protest for many more months.

Government needs to amend laws by ensuring the sovereign guarantee of MSP continuence in text. Also selling and buying farm produce below MSP should be made a crime and stringent punishible terms should be included in the amended laws and above all Government today need its maverick leaders who are mass leaders to hit the street and take on brainwashing of farmers by vested interest head-on. So far not one major BJP leader has hit the streets amassing support for the 3 farm laws.

The recent concretisation of barrricades at Gazipur border which included creating a minefield of nails has done a big damage to government's image and it should be removed because its wrong morally.  Damage is already done. So far PM Narendra Modi has not got directly involved in negotiations between farm unions and government which is being handled by his Agricultural Minister. Perhaps the time has come for PM Modi and big leaders of BJP to get directly involved and ensure the 3 farm laws are enforced and accepted by farmers to take on the opposition not only in Parliament but also on streets.

Above all Government needs a major PR Overhaul and a face to take on those who are brainwashing the poor farmers with false fears. Good Intention and  good governance are not enough .You need a maverick leader to make the rebel believe in you. Unless they hit the streets and convince the protesting farmers the benefits of the farm laws it will cause serious dent to Government's image as anti-farmer despite the 3 farm laws being pro-farmers law.This government is failing at only one point and that's PR-Public Relations.