5 years after retreat on farm laws, Modi govt bends to a street protest: Why CJP succeeded, why Shaheen Bagh could not

Five years after repealing contentious farm laws, the Indian government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has once again yielded to street protests. This latest concession is particularly noteworthy as it represents a departure from a doctrine the government has largely adhered to throughout its 12-year tenure.

The article highlights the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan as a move that signifies a deeper shift. This action goes beyond earlier retreats, suggesting a willingness to break with established policy lines when faced with sustained public pressure. The government's previous approach had been characterized by a firm stance, making this current flexibility a significant development.

Furthermore, the piece draws a comparison between the success of the CJP (Campaign for Judicial Protection) protests and the earlier Shaheen Bagh demonstrations. It analyzes the factors contributing to the effectiveness of the CJP movement, implicitly contrasting it with the outcomes of the Shaheen Bagh protests, which did not achieve similar concessions. This comparison aims to shed light on the dynamics of social movements and their impact on government policy in India.