India's farmers continue protests in the nation's capital showing displeasure to new farm laws

Protest by thousands of farmers from Punjab and Haryana took place in New Delhi over the weekend entering its fifth day Monday as the farmers continue to showcase their displeasure against the Centre's new farm laws. The laws were passed in mid-September by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government.

The laws bring private parties into the controlled agriculture sector. The farmers biggest conern is that the and success of their crops will be left at the hands of large corporations, which will impact the incomes of smaller producers. Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Tomar has invited farmer unions for talks.

नए कानून बनाना समय की आवश्यकता थी, आने वाले कल में ये नए कृषि कानून, किसानों के जीवन स्तर में क्रांतिकारी बदलाव लाने वाले हैं।

नए कृषि कानूनों के प्रति भ्रम को दूर करने के लिए मैं सभी किसान भाइयों एवं बहनों को चर्चा के लिए आमंत्रित करता हूँ। pic.twitter.com/nuErxau23B

— Narendra Singh Tomar (@nstomar) November 27, 2020

किसान अगर सरकारों की बातों से कई बार आशंकित रहता है तो उसके पीछे दशकों का इतिहास है।

जिन्होंने छल किया, उनके लिए झूठ फैलाना मजबूरी बन चुका है। लेकिन अब छल से नहीं, गंगाजल जैसी पवित्र नीयत से काम किया जा रहा है।

हमारी सरकार का ट्रैक रिकॉर्ड देखेंगे तो सच अपने आप सामने आ जाएगा। pic.twitter.com/cR2t4bsozI

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 30, 2020

The farmers have made it clear that they not accept any conditional dialogue and have called a meeting to discuss their next course of action later in the day. Farmers, who had reached Nirankarai Samagam Ground in Burari on Saturday, continued their protest there. The protestors blocked traffic in the city. Delhi Traffic Police via a Twitter post on Monday alerted commuters to take an alternate route since Singhu and Tikri borders continued to remain closed.

Traffic Alert

Singhu Border is still closed from both sides. Please take alternate route.Traffic has been diverted from Mukarba Chowk & GTK road.Traffic is very very heavy. Please avoid outer ring road from signature bridge to Rohini &Vice versa, GTK road, NH 44 & Singhu border

— Delhi Traffic Police (@dtptraffic) November 30, 2020

A meeting of over 30 farmer groups was held to discuss Amit Shah's offer for talks before December 3rd once they move to Burari in the city, but the protesters had refused to negotiate and spent another night in the cold at the Singhu and Tikri border points.

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Their representatives had said that Amit Shah's condition that they shift the protest is not acceptable and claimed Burari ground is an "open jail". Over the last five days, thousands of farmers, braving water cannons, tear gas and barricades of the Haryana police, have reached the borders of Delhi. While some of them have managed to enter the city, the rest are sitting at the border areas, saying they are ready to do what it takes to see the end of the three farm laws passed by parliament earlier this year.

The farmers protest has not just been limited to India but people and local politicians have reacted to the farmers concerns outside of the country as well.

Rachna Singh MLA for Surrey Green Timbers shared her thoughts on the protest via social media along with MLA for Surrey Panorama Jinny Sims and MP for Surrey Newton Sukh Dhaliwal also talked about peaceful demonstrations via Twitter. 

I’m really saddened by the way #PunjabFarmers are being treated . This is unacceptable. https://t.co/ajwnH6iZNv

— Rachna Singh (@RachnaSinghNDP) November 27, 2020

The right to peaceful protest is a cornerstone of democracy. Interference with that right is an attack on democracy & freedom. I support #Farmers

— Jinny Sims (@jinnysims) November 30, 2020

The right to peaceful protest is fundamental in any democracy, especially in the world's largest

I am very disturbed by the treatment of Punjabi farmers in India - this blatant abuse by Indian authorities is unacceptable

I stand with the #PunjabFarmers #cdnpoli #SurreyBC pic.twitter.com/MQYQwL3AzS

— Sukh Dhaliwal (@sukhdhaliwal) November 27, 2020

Demonstrators echoed the farmers sentiments in India’s Punjab and Haryana spilled onto the streets in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada on Sunday evening. People helped up signs and marched down Scott Rd and 72nd Ave

Photo courtesy of Istock.