NEW DELHI: Indian farmers, protesting for a week demanding guaranteed crop prices, rejected a government proposal, vowing to continue their march to the capital, New Delhi.
Protesters began their march last week but faced barriers and tear gas from authorities, reminiscent of the 2021 farmer protests that lasted over a year on the outskirts of the capital.
Late Monday, farm leaders declined the government’s offer of a five-year contract for guaranteed prices on certain crops, including pulses, maize, and cotton.
Jagjit Singh Dallewal, a protest leader, stated that the government’s proposal was not favorable to farmers’ interests. Tens of thousands of farmers, waiting for the government’s offer about 200 kilometers from New Delhi, will resume their march on Wednesday.
“We appeal to the government to either resolve our issues or remove barricades and allow us to proceed to Delhi to protest peacefully,” said Dallewal.
These protests echo the movement from over two years ago when farmers camped on the outskirts of New Delhi for over a year against agriculture laws, which were eventually repealed by the government.
The current protests demand legislation guaranteeing minimum support prices for all farm produce. Farmers argue that such a guarantee would stabilize their incomes, in addition to pressing for the fulfillment of promises made during the 2021 protests.
Despite several meetings, negotiations between farm leaders and the government have failed to resolve the deadlock. Piyush Goyal, a minister involved in negotiations, stated that some of the farmers’ demands were “deep and policy-driven,” complicating resolution efforts.
The protests occur amidst India’s upcoming national elections, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s party expected to seek a third successive term. Farmers form a crucial part of Modi’s support base, particularly in states like Northern Haryana, governed by his Bharatiya Janata Party, with substantial farmer populations.
