By Devjyot Ghoshal
BHAINSWAL, India (Reuters) – Thousands of farmers in a politically important Indian state rebelled against new agricultural laws on Friday, signaling growing support for a month-long campaign to scrap government reforms.
Angered at what they see as legislation that benefits private buyers at the expense of growers, tens of thousands of farmers have been camping on the outskirts of the capital, New Delhi, for more than two months, calling for the repeal of laws passed in September. .
Much of the initial support for the protests has come from rice and wheat growers in northern India, particularly the opposition-ruled state of Punjab.
But in a sign of a growing challenge to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government, more than 10,000 farmers from across the political and religious spectrum gathered in Uttar Pradesh state on Friday to show their support for the protests.
Ramkumar Choudhary, a local leader from Bagpat district, told the mob of Hindu and Muslim farmers in Bhainswal village, thousands more would go to Delhi unless the government reversed the laws.
“So far only 1% of the people have come from the villages. On the day we send 50% of our people, there will be no place to move in Delhi,” he said.
Devender Singh, a sugar cane farmer who attended the meeting, said the agitation drew widespread support.
“100% farmers from all communities are taking part in the protest,” he said. “Farmers cannot make ends meet.”
Hundreds of police officers, many armed and dressed in riot gear, stood by, but there were no problems.
Uttar Pradesh is India’s largest state and a critical state on the battlefield in elections.
Although Modi’s party has a comfortable majority in parliament, support for the protests from Uttar Pradesh’s politically influential sugarcane farmers will be worrying.
The farmers say the laws will end long-standing support prices for their crops and leave them vulnerable to the whims of major buyers. They demand that the laws be annulled.
The government says reforming the inefficient agricultural sector will bring new opportunities for farmers and, although it has made some concessions, has ruled out repealing the laws.
The protests were largely peaceful, but flared up in turmoil on January 26 when some farmers collided with police in New Delhi and one person was killed and hundreds injured.
To the government’s chagrin, the protests have attracted increasing international attention, with celebrities including pop star Rihanna and environmentalist Greta Thunberg announcing their support for the farmers.
(Reporting by Devjyot Ghoshal in Bhainswal; Written by Alasdair Pal; Edited by Robert Birsel and Steve Orlofsky)