Who is holding the protests?
Hundreds of thousands of farmers, mostly Sikhs and from the North Indian states of Punjab and Haryana, protested against the introduction of a series of agricultural laws in September last year.
The farmers started their protests in their own states but at the end of November they moved or drove with their tractors to the outskirts of Delhi. Here they set up three extensive protest camps, in the areas of Singhu, Ghazipur and Tikri. The farmers built tents and houses in their tractor trailers, set up kitchens, shops and libraries, and promised not to relocate until the farm laws were repealed. The farmers, led by well-organized unions, also said they would expand the protests nationwide and plan a series of rallies across the country in the coming weeks.
Why do they oppose the laws?
The measures introduced by the central government are some of the most comprehensive changes in agriculture since the 1990s, particularly on how crops can be sold on the market. Farming employs more than 50% of India’s workforce. Many feel that the sector needs a facelift and modernization, especially so that it can adapt to the challenges of global warming. Indian farmers, 85% of whom own less than five hectares of land, have long struggled with poverty and debt, and suicide rates are high. In 2019, nearly 10,300 farmers killed themselves.
The government argues that the laws are a necessary step towards modernizing agriculture, enabling farmers to sell crops to private enterprises rather than just state-owned markets where some prices are heavily subsidized by taxpayers. Farmers, however, believe that the laws will leave them at the mercy of companies by removing the safety net of guaranteed prices for certain crops, leaving them at greater risk of losing their land. They also objected to the laws being enacted without consultation, accusing the government of slamming the changes down their throats.
What was the government response?
The farmers forced the government to the negotiating table, but 11 rounds of discussions got nowhere. Over the past week, the government has taken an increasingly draconian approach to the protests and those reporting on them. At least 10 resurrection cases were filed against journalists and politicians for tweets related to the protests, and riot police and paramilitary forces stormed the peasant camps and barricaded them. Mobile internet access at the camps was suspended for several days. In parliament, Prime Minister Narendra Modi accused the protesters of being infiltrated by rioters who were not committed to the cause and were only trying to cause trouble.
The government also reacted strongly to the foreign spotlight on the protests. After tweets from singer Rihanna and Swedish environmentalist Greta Thunberg drew attention to the farmers, the Foreign Ministry issued a statement condemning celebrities who they said were ‘making hasty comments on such matters’ without a proper understanding. of the issues’.
What’s going to happen now?
The Supreme Court suspended the implementation of the laws for 18 months, but the farmers said it was not enough and they would only accept a full repeal. However, the reputation of Modi’s strongman means that he probably will not lean towards their demands, and that he can rather wait it out and try to weaken the protesters through a combination of defense and ‘divide and conquer’ tactics.