Thousands of farmers started their protests last month.
Washington:
Several US lawmakers have voiced support for farmers mobilizing in India against new farm laws and urged that they be allowed to protest peacefully.
India has called the statements by foreign leaders about the farmers’ protests “misinformed” and “unjustified”, as the matter concerned the internal affairs of a democratic country.
“I stand in solidarity with Punjabi farmers in India who are protesting for their livelihoods and protection from manipulative and misguided government regulations,” Congressman Doug LaMalfa said Monday.
“Punjabi farmers must be able to peacefully protest against their government without fear of violence,” said the Republican lawmaker representing California’s first congressional district.
Thousands of farmers from Punjab, Haryana, and several other states have been protesting across Delhi’s various borders since Nov. 26, seeking the repeal of three farm laws enacted in September.
Calling these laws “anti-farmer”, these farmers claim that the recently enacted legislation would pave the way for the dismantling of the minimum support price system, leaving them at the “mercy” of large corporations.
However, the government has argued that the new laws will provide farmers with better opportunities and usher in new technologies in agriculture.
“India is the largest democracy in the world; they owe it to their citizens to allow peaceful protest. I encourage these people and Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi to have peaceful and productive discussions,” said Democratic Congressman Josh Harder.
Congressman TJ Cox said that India must defend the right to peaceful demonstration and guarantee the safety of its citizens.
The rights of protesting farmers must be respected and the way forward is meaningful dialogue, the Democratic leader said.
Congressman Andy Levin said he is inspired by the farmers movement in India.
“I see it as a harbinger of a year of popular power in 2021,” said the Democratic lawmaker.
The farmers’ protest has also caught the attention of the mainstream American media.
“The protests have spread beyond New Delhi. Farmers marched and waved banners in the southern states of Kerala and Karnataka and the northeastern state of Assam. Sugarcane farmers in Uttar Pradesh, who would be less affected by reforming the farm, they staged a camp protest in solidarity, clogging a central artery on the state border with Delhi, “The New York Times reported.
According to a CNN report, “Tens of thousands of farmers have invaded the Indian capital, where they intend to camp for weeks to protest against new agricultural laws that they say could destroy their livelihoods.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is posted from a syndicated channel.)
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