‘I apologize,’ says Prime Minister Modi, redefining himself in two simple words

The repeal of the three agricultural laws is an attempt to dispel Modi’s image as an arrogant leader attributed to him by the opposition and his detractors. Prime Minister Narendra Modi apologized to the farmers, acknowledging that the government “failed to persuade” it to pass three farm laws for more than a year.

The repeal of the three agricultural laws is an attempt to dispel Modi’s image as an arrogant leader attributed to him by the opposition and his detractors. 

“I offer my sincerest apologies to the people of our country,” Modi said. “I didn’t convince the farmers,” he explained. “It is possible that our efforts are in vain because we cannot convince some farmers.”

Farmers in Punjab launched a protest against the Three Agricultural Laws in July last year. In November last year, the protest site was moved to the Delhi-Patangkot border. There must have been about a dozen or so discussions between the peasant representatives and the union minister who failed to break the deadlock. 

Despite the Supreme Court’s decision to suspend indefinitely, farmers persistently demanded the repeal of these three laws. The continued efforts of the farmers and the Modi government’s insistence on sticking to the path set by the agricultural law have helped spread the perception among the opposition that Modi is an arrogant man.

‘I MAKE NO APOLOGIES

This will probably be the second time Prime Minister Modi has publicly expressed regret over an issue that has been challenged by the general public. Although he had several problems during his first tenure as Prime Minister of Gujarat and then as Prime Minister, Modi was not perceived as a leader to apologize to opposition pressures or his detractors. 

 There is a section of society urging Prime Minister Modi to apologize for the 2002 Gujarat riots. Modi was under investigation when he was Gujarat’s chief minister in relation to the riots. The court ruled in favor of him and dropped all charges against him. He never expressed regret. The Gujarat government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has been criticized by the opposition and several activists for participating in riots that have killed more than 1,000 people. 

 According to Prime Minister Modi, who ran for prime minister in the 2014 general election, “I am convinced that if there is any truth to that claim, if he feels a bright future and Indian tradition, then Modi should be hanged. After all, he reasoned, “no one would dare to perpetrate such a crime in the next 100 years such an exemplary punishment.”

“If Modi has committed a crime, he should not be pardoned,” the author argues emphatically. What exactly is this system of pardoning people through the act of apologizing? There should be no need for an apology. According to the Indian news agency ANI, he stated at the time that Modi should never be pardoned.

“Jitna kehna tha keh dia,” he said, defending his “no apology” stance. [I have spoken what I had to say.] Janata ki adalat se main sone ki tarah niklaa hoon. [I’ve emerged from the people’s court like gold].”

GST TO CAA DEMO, GST TO CAA

Moreover, Prime Minister Modi has refused to accept demands from the opposition to apologize for introducing monetary reforms. More than 100 people were reported dead in the decision to close the currency, and residents had to wait in long lines to get their money at the bank. I’ve been having trouble withdrawing cash from the machine for several weeks. The impact of paper money also affected economic growth. 

 Every year on the anniversary of the currency reform, the opposition party demands an apology from Prime Minister Modi. Prime Minister Modi, on the other hand, did not express any regrets about the decision. 

 Another issue raised was the introduction of the Goods and Services Tax (GST). Argued to the contrary, this tax was imposed in an unprepared manner, causing serious disruption to trade and commerce across the country. Goods and services taxes and monetization are known to have a multiplier effect on India’s economic growth, which has further slowed it down. Prime Minister Modi, on the other hand, did not apologize for the dissenting opinion. 

There was a strong backlash against two additional political decisions taken by the Modi government, both of which were criticized by the opposition and other groups. This was the repeal of Article 370 and the enactment of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in Jammu and Kashmir. 

 CAA became a major problem in Delhi after several months of protests, with hundreds of protesters blocking their way to Shahin Bagh for months. Similar protests have been observed in several states. AntiSAA protests in Delhi are linked to sectarian violence that claimed the lives of more than 50 people last year. Despite opposition calls and international condemnation, Prime Minister Modi refused to apologize to the CAA.

COVID-19, THEN FARM LAWS ARE THE NEXT STEP

However, this year, Prime Minister Modi expressed regret over the Covid-19 incident. PM Modi apologized for the “tough methods” his government took to curb the Covid-19 outbreak during another speech to the country in his monthly radio program, Mann Ki Baat, in March of this year.

“I sincerely apologize for these harsh measures that have caused difficulties in your life, especially the lives of the poor.” He continued. I’m well aware that some of you would be upset with me as well. However, these drastic steps were necessary to win this struggle.”

The apologies for the Covid-19 incident, on the other hand, were not political. There were no organized demonstrations in opposition to the government’s decisions. Farm laws were enacted after farmers banded together under a single flag to fight for their rights. The Opposition remained unrelenting in its criticism of the Modi government, with Prime Minister Modi, in particular, being singled out.

In an open letter, farmer leader Rakesh Tikait stated that the meetings with Union ministers were unlikely to produce any results because they were a fight against Prime Minister Modi’s “ego and arrogance.” As a result, Prime Minister Modi’s “I apologize” statement serves as a symbol of his repositioning as a leader.

edited and proofread by nikita sharma