Indian Republic Day farmers’ protests become violent

Violence erupted in the capital of New Delhi, India, on Tuesday as thousands of farmers protested the government’s agricultural reform bills, drove past police roadblocks and clashed with officials.

Farmers’ unions on Republic Day devised a plan for a peaceful march to the capital, commemorating the signing of the Indian constitution. The Indian government has approved a plan for the farmers – who have been protesting for months – to enter the city in the afternoon. But the farmers’ plans went wrong when some protesters started marching to the capital a few hours before the shift, leading to a face-off with the police, who used tear gas and batons to try to stop them.

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As the farmers left approved routes, fierce fighting broke out over the city. One farmer was crushed when his tractor was among the numerous vehicles that overturned in the melee. Reports indicate that at least 19 people involved in the clashes were sent to two hospitals in New Delhi. According to police, at least 86 officers were also injured.

In a statement, Eish Singal of the New Delhi police said the protesters had broken the agreements made before the protest. “The farmers started tractor marches ahead of schedule. They also used violence and vandalism.”

The farmers, many of whom are Sikhs from the Punjab and Haryana states of India, also entered the historic Red Fort of New Delhi and hoisted the Nishan Sahib, an important flag for the Indian Sikh communities.

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The Joint Farmers ‘Front, which represents a number of Indian farmers’ unions, issued a statement on Tuesday condemning the clashes and separating themselves from the protesters who are engaging in violence. “We condemn and deplore the undesirable and unacceptable events that took place today and distance ourselves from those who indulge in such acts,” the statement said.

The statement also said that the unions had made efforts to keep the events peaceful, but “some organizations and individuals have violated the route and condemned them to condemnation.”

Prime Minister Amarinder Singh, who represents Punjab, where many of the farmers come from, further wrote Twitter that the violence was ‘unacceptable’ and ‘encouraged all true farmers to leave Delhi and return to the borders’, referring to the areas on the outskirts of Delhi where the farmers had been camping for weeks.

Why the farmers are still protesting

Thousands of farmers have been blocking several roads to New Delhi for more than two months, demanding that three laws be repealed. The Bharatiya Janata Party of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, adopted in September as part of a plan to turn India into a $ 5 trillion economy by 2024.

The laws, which according to some experts are needed to modernize India’s economy, removes long-term restrictions on how and where products are sold. Farmers who used to sell their products in government-named markets called mandis can now sell where they want.

But farmers are worried that the reforms will leave them at the mercy of big business that will buy their crops at low prices, leading to their financial downfall.

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In response to the months of protests that have left dozens of farmers dead, the Indian government has offered to suspend the laws for 18 months. The farmers’ unions, however, refused to end their protest until the laws were fully repealed.

After an 11th round of talks ended on January 22 without a resolution, the farmers decided to increase the unrest of the Modi government by driving trekkers into the capital during the celebration of Republic Day.

The farmers planned a march on foot to the parliament building on February 1 while the government set its budget.