Farmers’ Protest: Delhi Fortified as Thousands March to India’s Capital
Around the capital, there are barriers of razor wire, cement blocks, and fencing on three sides to prevent Farmers protests from getting too close.
The government is worried about a situation similar to what happened in 2020 when many people died during year-long protests. Those protests only stopped after ministers agreed to revoke controversial agriculture laws.
However, just over two years later, farmers assert that authorities haven’t addressed their remaining demands.
India’s farmers hold significant political sway, and experts suggest that PM Narendra Modi’s government will be careful not to upset them. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), led by Modi, is aiming for a third consecutive term in the upcoming general elections.
On Tuesday, images showed police deploying tear gas to disperse protesters near Ambala, about 200km north of the capital. Furthermore, police employed tear gas at the Shambhu border between Haryana and Punjab on Monday.
Farmers Protests
Tuesday witnessed traffic congestion and disruptions in Delhi as authorities closed roads and redirected traffic. Police implemented bans on large gatherings in the city. Especially at border areas between Delhi and neighboring states such as Uttar Pradesh and Haryana. Which farmers were expected to traverse en route to the capital.
These measures aimed to manage the influx of protesters participating in the ongoing farmers’ protest. The restrictions highlighted the tense atmosphere surrounding the protests and the government’s efforts to maintain order while addressing the grievances of the farming community.
Farmers are demanding guaranteed floor prices, known as minimum support price or MSP, to ensure they can sell most of their crops at government-regulated wholesale markets or mandis. They are also pressing the government to fulfill its promise of doubling farmers’ income.
On Monday, government ministers engaged in a lengthy six-hour discussion with leaders of farm unions. Reports indicate agreement reached on issues like dropping cases against protesters from 2020 demonstrations.
However, there was disagreement regarding the minimum support price (MSP). Following the repeal of the farm laws in 2021. The government pledged to establish a committee to explore methods for guaranteeing support prices for all agricultural produce. Yet, the committee has not yet presented its findings.
