Massive farmers’ protests are a headache for Narendra Modi
Even if the recent ones have been contained, discontent remains
Protesting farmers are an alarming sight for India’s government. With nearly two-thirds of Indians dependent on farming for their livelihood, agricultural workers can make or break elections. They can also stymie policy making. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) discovered this three years ago, when farmers marched on Delhi, the capital, eventually forcing the government to repeal a big set of reforms intended to deregulate India’s agricultural market. It was one of the few political defeats Mr Modi has suffered in a decade in power.
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This article appeared in the Asia section of the print edition under the headline “The actual opposition?”
From the March 2nd 2024 edition
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