As you sow

The Modi government's defeat on farm laws underlines the perils of governing an entire continent-sized, diverse and federal nation like the chief minister of a state

The Modi government has done the right thing in announcing the repeal of the three farm laws. It was the only way to resolve a withering conflict.

It doesn’t change the fact, however, that the farm laws by and large were reformist, good for Indian farmers. Nor can it change the fact that these laws were dead on arrival. Contradictory?

Because, in a democracy it doesn’t matter how convinced the rulers are of a policy being good for the people. They have to first convince people. In the summer of 2020, when much of this reformist action was taking place, no one