Who is holding the protests?
Hundreds of thousands of farmers, most of them Sikh and from the northern Indian states of Punjab and Haryana, protested in September against the introduction of a series of agricultural laws last September.
The farmers started their protests in their own states, but in late November they marched or drove their tractors to the outskirts of Delhi. Here they set up three sprawling 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houses in their tractor trailers, set up kitchens, shops, and libraries, and vowed not to move until peasant laws were repealed. The farmers, who are led by well-organized unions, have also said they will expand protests across the country and have a series of rallies planned across the country in the coming weeks.
Why they do oppose the laws?
The measures put in place by the central government are some of the most profound changes in agriculture since the 1990s, especially in terms of how crops can be sold in the market. Agriculture employs more than 50% of the Indian workforce. Many believe that the sector needs a revamp and modernization, especially to adapt to the challenges of global warming. Indian farmers, 85% of whom own less than five hectares of land, have long been struggling with poverty and debt, and suicide rates are high. In 2019, nearly 10,300 farmers committed suicide.
The government argues that the laws are a necessary step toward modernizing agriculture, allowing farmers to sell their crops to private companies, rather than just state-controlled markets where some prices are heavily subsidized by the taxpayer. However, farmers say the laws leave them at the mercy of companies by removing the safety net of guaranteed prices for certain crops, putting them at greater risk of losing their land. They have also objected to the laws being passed without consultation and accused the government of ramming the changes down their throats.
What is the government response?
The farmers forced the government to sit down at the negotiating table, but eleven rounds of discussion have led nowhere. The government has taken an increasingly draconian approach to the protests and those reporting on it in recent weeks. At least 10 incitement cases have been filed against journalists and politicians over tweets about the protests, and riot police and paramilitary forces have descended on and barricaded the peasant camps. Mobile internet access in the camps has been suspended for several days. In parliament, Prime Minister Narendra Modi accused the protesters of being infiltrated by agitators who were not committed to the cause and were merely trying to stir up trouble.
The government has also responded strongly to the foreign spotlight on the protests. After tweets from singer Rihanna and Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg drew attention to the farmers, the State Department released a statement condemning celebrities who said they would “hastily comment on such matters” without “proper understanding of the problems “.
What is going to happen now?
The Supreme Court has suspended implementation of the laws for 18 months, but farmers have said this is not enough and will only accept a full repeal. However, Modi’s strong reputation means he is unlikely to bow to their demands, and he can instead wait and try to exhaust the protesters through a combination of attrition and “divide and conquer” tactics.