Indian Farmers Begin 12-Hour National Shutdown as Protests Against Farm Laws Enter 5th Month

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Indian Farmers Begin 12-Hour National Shutdown as Protests Against Farm Laws Enter 5th Month

In November 2020, thousands of Indian farmers began protesting on the outskirts of Delhi to force Narendra Modi’s government to withdraw new farm laws. The farmers are concerned that the laws will dilute the minimum support price (MSP) system and let market forces influence their earnings.

Farmers across India on Friday morning kickstarted a 12-hour national shutdown called “Bharat Bandh”, marking exactly four months since they first started their agitation against three new farm laws on 26 November around New Delhi.

As part of the mass movement, farmers have blocked the Delhi-Ghazipur border causing traffic police to re-route commuters. Protesting farmers in the city of Ambala have blocked the historic Grand Trunk road as well as the railway track near Shahpur. In Punjab as well, farmers have blocked rail tracks and highways in a bid to draw the government’s attention to their agitation.

During the day-long national strike, all businesses as well as rail and road traffic will be non-operational, however, essential services will remain unaffected, the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), a coalition of farmers’ unions that called for the strike, said.

Images of deserted bus stations and closed shops have emerged online. Pictures and videos of protesting farmers making arrangements for the strike have also surfaced on Twitter.

​This is the second nationwide strike announced by farmers after one was observed on 8 December.

The two new farm bills and one amendment that have stirred the controversy are the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020, Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act 2020. They were passed during the monsoon session of the parliament in September of last year. 

As the protests against these laws gathered international attention, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government has consistently hailed the reforms as “progressive”.

Several rounds of discussions between farmer leaders and the government have yet to bear fruit.

Presently, leaders from all major political parties like the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Indian National Congress (INC) are busy touring the states of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, West Bengal, and Assam – that will be witnessing Assembly Elections on 27 March.

In light of election campaigning, the government has not called for an official meeting with the farmers since 22 January, 64-year-old Jagmohan Singh, who is a member of the All India Kisan Sangharsh (farmer agitation) Coordination Committee, told Sputnik. He also added that government representatives, however, visit the protest sites from time to time for informal dialogues.

Over these past few months, farmers across India have extended solidarity with their counterparts protesting in Delhi. Over 300 farmers have died amid protests due to natural causes, extreme weather conditions, and even suicide.

Sourse: sputniknews.com

Indian Farmers Begin 12-Hour National Shutdown as Protests Against Farm Laws Enter 5th Month

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