Why are Indian Farmers Protesting Again?

Indian farmers have taken to the streets to protest again, two years after the massive protests across the country ended.

Thousands of farmers are travelling to Delhi while authorities have turned the city into a fortress, barricading it with razor wire and concrete blocks in a bid to keep protestors at bay.

Clashes have unfolded, with authorities using tear gas.

August 2020 was the beginning of a year-long protest against the government’s plan to introduce controversial agricultural laws.

Thousands camped at the Delhi border, with many dying from the cold and Covid-19.

It ended up becoming one of the biggest challenges for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government.

Protesting groups ended their strike after the government scrapped the proposed farm laws in 2021 and agreed to discuss other demands.

This included guaranteed prices for produce and a withdrawal of criminal cases against the protestors.

Indian farmers are protesting again, stating they want to remind the government of the promises made in 2021.

The Reason for the 2020 Protest

Indian farmers protested against three proposed laws that loosened rules around the sale, pricing and storage of farm produce.

These rules have protected farmers from the free market for decades.

According to farm unions, these new laws would leave farmers at the mercy of big companies and destroy their livelihoods.

After months of claiming the reforms would benefit farmers, Modi said the laws would be repealed on November 19, 2021.

A few days later, the bill was passed to cancel the reforms.

It was a victory for the farmers and also an example of how mass protests could successfully challenge the government.

However, farmers initially remained at the sites and continued to protest until they were given a government letter, accepting many of their other demands.

The government also committed to offering compensation to the families of farmers who lost their lives during the protests.

Additionally, in response to the call for a minimum support price, the government has pledged to establish a committee comprising representatives from both federal and state governments, agricultural experts, and farmer organisations.

Why are Farmers Protesting Again?

According to Indian farmers, the government has not kept the promises made during the first mass protest.

They are also demanding pensions and urging the government to waive their debts.

Farmers have voiced the need for penalties against those involved in selling counterfeit seeds, pesticides and fertilisers.

Moreover, they are advocating for the government to increase the number of work days under the rural employment guarantee scheme to 200.

Additionally, the protestors are calling for India’s withdrawal from the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and the termination of all free trade agreements.

The Importance of the Protests

Farmers constitute the most powerful voting constituency in India, with Haryana and other states with large farmer populations being ruled by Modi’s BJP.

Experts suggest that the government would be hesitant to antagonise them just weeks before the general elections.

The recent farmers’ march evokes memories of the disruption that occurred during their initial protest, which effectively halted life around Delhi’s borders for months.

Despite the Modi government holding two additional rounds of discussions with farm leaders, farmers have dismissed these talks as “delaying tactics” and have refused to end their protest.

If the protests gather the same kind of momentum as last time, it could pose major challenges for Modi and his government.