The contrast between the two major farmer agitations in recent years lays bare the sheer hypocrisy of the Opposition, particularly the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). The first, which took place at Delhi’s borders in 2020–21, was fully backed by opposition parties, especially the Delhi government led by AAP. The second, currently unfolding at the Punjab-Haryana border, exposes AAP’s true face as a party that shifts its stance based on political convenience.
The 2020–21 Agitation: AAP’s Opportunistic Support and Modi Government’s Tolerance
During the year-long protest against the now-repealed farm laws, the AAP government in Delhi left no stone unturned to support the agitation. Free WiFi, rations, and other amenities were generously provided to sustain the protestors. The protest sites turned into semi-permanent settlements, with backing from various political outfits who saw an opportunity to corner the Modi government.
Despite severe provocations—including the infamous Red Fort incident on Republic Day 2021, where protestors broke barricades, stormed the historic fort, and hoisted flags—the Union Government maintained restraint. There was no large-scale police crackdown, no violent suppression, and not a single instance of lathi charge at the protest sites. Instead, multiple rounds of talks were held, and ultimately, in an act of statesmanship, PM Modi humbly announced the repeal of the farm laws on national television, even apologizing to the nation.
This showed the maturity and patience of the Modi government, which chose dialogue over force despite grave provocations.
The 2024-25 Agitation: AAP’s Brutal Crackdown on Farmers
Fast forward to 2024, and a different farmer protest is now unfolding at the Punjab-Haryana border. But this time, it is the AAP government in Punjab, led by CM Bhagwant Mann, that is showing utter disregard for democratic protests.
The same party that once championed farmer rights is now overseeing a crackdown on farmers. Punjab police have resorted to lathi charges, tear gas, and even manhandling female protestors—a stark contrast to how Delhi Police handled the previous agitation under the BJP-led Union Government. Video evidence of police brutality is circulating, showing female farmers being physically abused by Punjab Police.
Where is the outrage now? Where are the self-proclaimed champions of democracy and human rights? The so-called liberal media, which went berserk when water cannons were used in Delhi in 2021, is now suspiciously silent.
AAP and its Media Partners’s Shameless Hypocrisy
AAP and its ecosystem of supporters, the #KejriwalPRShow gang, have consistently labeled the Modi government as “intolerant” and “authoritarian.” But today, it is Bhagwant Mann and AAP that are behaving like dictators, treating Punjab’s farmers with contempt.
If you go through the timelines of the #KejriwalPRShow brigade—Preeti Choudhary, Swati Chaturvedi, Saba Naqvi, and their ilk—and search for “farmers’ agitation,” you’ll find a relentless barrage of tweets from 2020-21, fiercely attacking and demonizing the Modi government. Back then, they posed as the self-proclaimed champions of farmers’ rights, amplifying every protest, every grievance, and every attack against the BJP.
But now? Deafening silence. Last night, when the Punjab Police, acting on the orders of their poster boy Arvind Kejriwal, brutally cracked down on agitating farmers, their moral outrage mysteriously evaporated. No indignant tweets, no passionate debates, no scathing criticism—just a carefully orchestrated, shameful hush. Their selective activism has never been more obvious. Their hypocrisy isn’t just blatant; it’s repulsive
The irony is laughable—AAP was at the forefront of the 2021 farmer protests, yet today, they are crushing the very people they claimed to support. Their strategy is clear: use the farmers when it suits their politics and discard them when they are inconvenient.
This two-faced politics extends beyond AAP. The entire opposition ecosystem, including the Congress, leftist intellectuals, and so-called activists, are complicit in this hypocrisy. When Delhi farmers protested, these groups amplified their cause and demonized the Modi government. But today, when farmers in Punjab are facing state-sponsored brutality under an AAP-led government, their voices are muted.
Who Is Really Intolerant?
The real face of intolerance has been unmasked. It was never Modi who was intolerant; it is AAP and the Opposition, who use state machinery to suppress dissent when they are in power. They cry “fascism” when in opposition but behave like dictators when given authority.
The contrast between the Modi government’s handling of the 2021 protests and AAP’s brutal crackdown in 2024 exposes the deep-seated opportunism and dishonesty of these so-called champions of democracy. The people of Punjab, and indeed the entire nation, are watching.
The question remains: Will those who shouted slogans for farmers in 2021 speak up now, or will their silence confirm their hypocrisy?
Author: Rishi Kalia is a seasoned entrepreneur, Digital media Strategist and political analyst with 23 years of diverse experience in business and public discourse. Tweets at Rishi Kalia
