Thousands of farmers from northern India are marching towards the capital, Delhi, to renew their protests against the government’s agricultural policies. The farmers say the government has not fulfilled the promises made to them in 2021, when they called off their year-long agitation after the repeal of three controversial farm laws.
What are the farmers’ demands?
The farmers, who mainly come from the states of Punjab and Haryana, are demanding a legal guarantee for minimum support prices (MSP) for their crops, a doubling of their income, a waiver of their debts, and a pension scheme. They also want the government to withdraw the criminal cases filed against them during the previous protests, and to compensate the families of those who died during the agitation.
The MSP is a system that ensures farmers get a fixed price for certain crops, regardless of market fluctuations. The farmers fear that without a legal guarantee, the MSP system will be dismantled and they will be at the mercy of big corporations. They also say that the MSP is not adequate to cover their costs of production and does not include all crops.
The farmers are also unhappy with the government’s response to their other demands, such as increasing their income and providing them with social security. They say the government has not formed a committee to discuss these issues, as agreed in 2021, and has not taken any concrete steps to address their grievances.
How has the government reacted?
The government has deployed heavy security forces at the borders of Delhi, where the farmers plan to hold a rally on Wednesday, the anniversary of the repeal of the farm laws. The authorities have erected barricades, barbed wire, and concrete blocks to prevent the farmers from entering the city. They have also used tear gas and water cannons to disperse the protesters at some places.
The government has appealed to the farmers to call off their march, saying it is ready to resume talks with them. The agriculture minister, Narendra Singh Tomar, said the government has already accepted most of the farmers’ demands and is willing to discuss the remaining ones. He said the government is committed to the welfare of the farmers and has taken several steps to improve their condition.
The government has also accused some opposition parties and activists of instigating the farmers and misleading them. It has claimed that the protests are politically motivated and have nothing to do with the farmers’ genuine concerns.
What is the background of the protests?
The farmers’ protests began in November 2020, when the government passed three laws that aimed to liberalize the agricultural sector. The laws allowed farmers to sell their produce to anyone, anywhere, instead of being restricted to regulated markets. They also enabled contract farming, where farmers could enter into agreements with private buyers. The government said the laws would give farmers more choices and opportunities, and boost their income.
However, the farmers opposed the laws, saying they would expose them to the vagaries of the market and undermine the MSP system. They also feared that the laws would favour big corporations over small farmers, and lead to the loss of their land and livelihoods. They demanded that the laws be repealed and a new law be enacted to guarantee MSP for all crops.
The farmers launched a massive protest movement, camping at the borders of Delhi for more than a year. They held several rounds of talks with the government, but failed to reach a consensus. They also staged rallies, roadblocks, hunger strikes, and boycotts to press their demands. The protests drew widespread support from various sections of society, as well as international attention.
In November 2021, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that his government would withdraw the laws, in a surprise move that was seen as a major concession to the farmers. He said he had taken the decision to end the stalemate and restore peace and harmony in the country. He also apologized to the farmers for any shortcomings in his communication and implementation of the reforms.
The farmers welcomed the decision, but said they would not end their protest until the government met their other demands. They also expressed their distrust of the government, saying it had not consulted them before passing or repealing the laws. They said they would continue to fight for their rights and dignity, and for a better future for their children.
What are the implications of the protests?
The farmers’ protests have been one of the biggest challenges faced by Modi’s government, which has been accused of being insensitive and authoritarian. The protests have also exposed the deep-rooted problems of the agricultural sector, which employs more than half of India’s population, but contributes less than a fifth of its GDP. The sector suffers from low productivity, high costs, poor infrastructure, climate change, and indebtedness.
The protests have also highlighted the need for a comprehensive and inclusive reform of the agricultural sector, that takes into account the interests and aspirations of the farmers, as well as the consumers and the environment. The protests have also raised questions about the role of the state and the market in regulating the sector, and the balance between efficiency and equity.
The protests have also sparked a debate on the role of civil society and democracy in India, and the rights and responsibilities of the citizens and the government. The protests have shown the power of collective action and peaceful resistance, as well as the challenges of dialogue and negotiation. The protests have also tested the limits of tolerance and dissent, and the scope of freedom and security.
Highlights of the farmers protest
– Thousands of farmers are marching to Delhi to renew their protests against the government’s agricultural policies.
– The farmers are demanding a legal guarantee for minimum support prices for their crops, a doubling of their income, a waiver of their debts, and a pension scheme.
– The government has deployed heavy security forces at the borders of Delhi, and has appealed to the farmers to call off their march.
– The farmers’ protests began in 2020, when the government passed three laws that aimed to liberalize the agricultural sector. The laws were repealed in 2021, after a year-long agitation by the farmers.
– The protests have been one of the biggest challenges faced by Modi’s government, and have exposed the deep-rooted problems of the agricultural sector.
– The protests have also highlighted the need for a comprehensive and inclusive reform of the agricultural sector, and sparked a debate on the role of civil society and democracy in India.