"This country elected a prime minister with a 56-inch chest, not a prime minister who would bow down."
#Disappointed trended on Twitter today after prime minister Narendra Modi announced that the central government would repeal the three controversial farm laws that had triggered massive protests for a year now.
A lot of people were happy, it's true, but leading the #disappointment throng were prominent news anchors struggling to come to terms with what Modi had sprung on them. After all, many of them spent the better part of the year demonising the farmers as "Khalistanis", "anti-nationals", "fools", and "pawns" in the hands of the opposition.
A lot of this is lost in translation but we try our best.
देश ने छप्पन इंच के सीने वाला पीएम चुना था @narendramodi जी, कुछ के विरोध के सामने, सियासी नफा-नुक़सान देखकर एक बड़े वर्ग के समर्थन के बावजूद झुक जानेवाला पीएम नहीं।
— Sushant Sinha (@SushantBSinha) November 19, 2021
Amish using #fact is a genre in itself.
PM has repealed #farmlaws in national interest. Anti India elements were trying to take advantage of this . #Fact
— Amish Devgan (@AMISHDEVGAN) November 19, 2021
Rubika's stellar journalism in the face of adversity included a Twitter poll. What we want to know is if she clicked on Option 2 more than twice.
मोदी सरकार के कृषि क़ानूनों को वापस लेने के फ़ैसले को आप कैसे देखते हैं?
— Rubika Liyaquat (@RubikaLiyaquat) November 19, 2021
Aman Chopra blamed farmers who supported the bill for not taking to the streets. It's their fault they didn't take the country hostage and spread lawlessness and instead supported the government. An ex would sound less salty.
शायद गलती उन बिल समर्थक किसानों की है कि वो लोग सड़कों पर नहीं उतरे, उन लोगों ने देश को बंधक नहीं बनाया, अराजकता नहीं फैलाई नहीं बल्कि सरकार पर भरोसा किया। #FarmBills
— Aman Chopra (@AmanChopra_) November 19, 2021
Rajat put out a tweet praising the tough Mrs Gandhi. #slytweet?
श्रीमती इंदिरा गांधी की जयंती पर उन्हें नमन. इंदिरा जी ने प्रधानमंत्री रहते हुए कई कड़े और साहसिक फ़ैसले लिए. हर फ़ैसले का दूरगामी परिणाम हुआ. उनके योगदान को देश हमेशा याद रखेगा. #IndiraGandhiBirthAnniversary
— Rajat Sharma (@RajatSharmaLive) November 19, 2021
There was a chorus of shocked "what next" tweets.
Climbdown on farm laws could open a pandora's box. What next article 370, CAA?
— Rahul Shivshankar (@RShivshankar) November 19, 2021
#FarmLaws repealed.#CAA #NRC cold storage.#UCC no signs.
— Navika Kumar (@navikakumar) November 19, 2021
What next?
Next is what? Article 370 back?
— Smita Prakash (@smitaprakash) November 19, 2021
Sudhir Chaudhary, who led the "Khalistani" calls, just RT-ed the prime minister and wished Kiren Rijiju a happy birthday. Let's see what he says on DNA.
Meanwhile, we feel the silence. The loudest voice on TV is unfortunately not on Twitter. How we'd kill to attend the Republic TV edit meeting this evening.
Also Read: 'Godi media murdabad': Protesting farmers hit out at media, refuse to speak to some channels
Newslaundry is a reader-supported, ad-free, independent news outlet based out of New Delhi. Support their journalism, here.
