Why tens of thousands of Indian farmers are protesting again
Why tens of thousands of Indian farmers are protesting again
Protesting Indian farmers shout slogans sitting on train tracks as they demand guaranteed prices for their produce at Vallah village, outskirts of Amritsar, Punjab, India, Thursday, Feb.15, 2024. The farmers are also pressing the government to follow through on its promise to double their income, waive their loans and withdraw legal cases brought against them during earlier 2021 protests, when they camped on the capital’s outskirts to demonstrate against controversial agriculture laws. (AP Photo/Prabhjot Gill)
Protesting Indian farmers shout slogans sitting on train tracks as they demand guaranteed prices for their produce at Vallah village, outskirts of Amritsar, Punjab, India, Thursday, Feb.15, 2024. The farmers are also pressing the government to follow through on its promise to double their income, waive their loans and withdraw legal cases brought against them during earlier 2021 protests, when they camped on the capital’s outskirts to demonstrate against controversial agriculture laws. (AP Photo/Prabhjot Gill)
Protesting farmers face armed police personnel near Shambhu border that divides northern Punjab and Haryana states, almost 200 km (125 miles) from New Delhi, India, Wednesday, Feb.14, 2024. Protesting Indian farmers Wednesday clashed with police for a second consecutive day as tens of thousands of them tried to march to the capital New Delhi to demand guaranteed crop prices for their produce. (AP Photo/Rajesh Sachar)
A farmer tries to douse a tear gas canister dropped by a police drone near Shambhu border that divides northern Punjab and Haryana states, almost 200 km (125 miles) from New Delhi, India, Wednesday, Feb.14, 2024. Protesting Indian farmers Wednesday clashed with police for a second consecutive day as tens of thousands of them tried to march to the capital New Delhi to demand guaranteed crop prices for their produce. (AP Photo/Rajesh Sachar)
A farmer administers eye drops to a fellow protester as a precaution against tear gas near Shambhu border that divides northern Punjab and Haryana states, almost 200 km (125 miles) from New Delhi, India, Wednesday, Feb.14, 2024. Protesting Indian farmers Wednesday clashed with police for a second consecutive day as tens of thousands of them tried to march to the capital New Delhi to demand guaranteed crop prices for their produce. (AP Photo/Rajesh Sachar)
Workers put up barbed wire on top of barricades on a major highway at Singhu near New Delhi to stop thousands of protesting farmers from entering the capital, India, Tuesday, Feb.13, 2024. Farmers, who began their march from northern Haryana and Punjab states, are asking for a guaranteed minimum support price for all farm produce. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)
Protesting farmers are surrounded by tear gas near Shambhu border that divides northern Punjab and Haryana states, almost 200 km (125 miles) from New Delhi, India, Wednesday, Feb.14, 2024. Protesting Indian farmers Wednesday clashed with police for a second consecutive day as tens of thousands of them tried to march to the capital New Delhi to demand guaranteed crop prices for their produce. (AP Photo/Rajesh Sachar)
Farmers marching to New Delhi gather near the Punjab-Haryana border at Shambhu, India, Tuesday, Feb.13, 2024. Farmers are marching to the Indian capital asking for a guaranteed minimum support price for all farm produce. (AP Photo/Rajesh Sachar)
Farmers on tractors march to New Delhi near the Punjab-Haryana border at Shambhu, India, Tuesday, Feb.13, 2024. Farmers are marching to the Indian capital asking for a guaranteed minimum support price for all farm produce. (AP Photo/Rajesh Sachar)
Farmers run for cover after police fired tear gas to disperse protesting farmers who were marching to New Delhi near the Punjab-Haryana border at Shambhu, India, Tuesday, Feb.13, 2024. Farmers are marching to the Indian capital asking for a guaranteed minimum support price for all farm produce. (AP Photo/Rajesh Sachar)
A Bharatiya Janata Party poster seeking a third term for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is seen on a barricade erected by police to stop thousands of protesting farmers from entering the capital at Singhu near New Delhi India, Tuesday, Feb.13, 2024. Farmers, who began their march from northern Haryana and Punjab states, are asking for a guaranteed minimum support price for all farm produce. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)
Protesting Indian farmers shout slogans sitting on train tracks as they demand guaranteed prices for their produce at Vallah village, outskirts of Amritsar, Punjab, India, Thursday, Feb.15, 2024. The farmers are also pressing the government to follow through on its promise to double their income, waive their loans and withdraw legal cases brought against them during earlier 2021 protests, when they camped on the capital’s outskirts to demonstrate against controversial agriculture laws. (AP Photo/Prabhjot Gill)
Protesting Indian farmers shout slogans sitting on train tracks as they demand guaranteed prices for their produce at Vallah village, outskirts of Amritsar, Punjab, India, Thursday, Feb.15, 2024. The farmers are also pressing the government to follow through on its promise to double their income, waive their loans and withdraw legal cases brought against them during earlier 2021 protests, when they camped on the capital’s outskirts to demonstrate against controversial agriculture laws. (AP Photo/Prabhjot Gill)
Protesting Indian farmers shout slogans sitting on train tracks as they demand guaranteed prices for their produce at Vallah village, outskirts of Amritsar, Punjab, India, Thursday, Feb.15, 2024. The farmers are also pressing the government to follow through on its promise to double their income, waive their loans and withdraw legal cases brought against them during earlier 2021 protests, when they camped on the capital’s outskirts to demonstrate against controversial agriculture laws. (AP Photo/Prabhjot Gill)
Protesting Indian farmers shout slogans sitting on train tracks as they demand guaranteed prices for their produce at Vallah village, outskirts of Amritsar, Punjab, India, Thursday, Feb.15, 2024. The farmers are also pressing the government to follow through on its promise to double their income, waive their loans and withdraw legal cases brought against them during earlier 2021 protests, when they camped on the capital’s outskirts to demonstrate against controversial agriculture laws. (AP Photo/Prabhjot Gill)
Protesting farmers face armed police personnel near Shambhu border that divides northern Punjab and Haryana states, almost 200 km (125 miles) from New Delhi, India, Wednesday, Feb.14, 2024. Protesting Indian farmers Wednesday clashed with police for a second consecutive day as tens of thousands of them tried to march to the capital New Delhi to demand guaranteed crop prices for their produce. (AP Photo/Rajesh Sachar)
Protesting farmers face armed police personnel near Shambhu border that divides northern Punjab and Haryana states, almost 200 km (125 miles) from New Delhi, India, Wednesday, Feb.14, 2024. Protesting Indian farmers Wednesday clashed with police for a second consecutive day as tens of thousands of them tried to march to the capital New Delhi to demand guaranteed crop prices for their produce. (AP Photo/Rajesh Sachar)
A farmer tries to douse a tear gas canister dropped by a police drone near Shambhu border that divides northern Punjab and Haryana states, almost 200 km (125 miles) from New Delhi, India, Wednesday, Feb.14, 2024. Protesting Indian farmers Wednesday clashed with police for a second consecutive day as tens of thousands of them tried to march to the capital New Delhi to demand guaranteed crop prices for their produce. (AP Photo/Rajesh Sachar)
A farmer tries to douse a tear gas canister dropped by a police drone near Shambhu border that divides northern Punjab and Haryana states, almost 200 km (125 miles) from New Delhi, India, Wednesday, Feb.14, 2024. Protesting Indian farmers Wednesday clashed with police for a second consecutive day as tens of thousands of them tried to march to the capital New Delhi to demand guaranteed crop prices for their produce. (AP Photo/Rajesh Sachar)
A farmer administers eye drops to a fellow protester as a precaution against tear gas near Shambhu border that divides northern Punjab and Haryana states, almost 200 km (125 miles) from New Delhi, India, Wednesday, Feb.14, 2024. Protesting Indian farmers Wednesday clashed with police for a second consecutive day as tens of thousands of them tried to march to the capital New Delhi to demand guaranteed crop prices for their produce. (AP Photo/Rajesh Sachar)
A farmer administers eye drops to a fellow protester as a precaution against tear gas near Shambhu border that divides northern Punjab and Haryana states, almost 200 km (125 miles) from New Delhi, India, Wednesday, Feb.14, 2024. Protesting Indian farmers Wednesday clashed with police for a second consecutive day as tens of thousands of them tried to march to the capital New Delhi to demand guaranteed crop prices for their produce. (AP Photo/Rajesh Sachar)
Workers put up barbed wire on top of barricades on a major highway at Singhu near New Delhi to stop thousands of protesting farmers from entering the capital, India, Tuesday, Feb.13, 2024. Farmers, who began their march from northern Haryana and Punjab states, are asking for a guaranteed minimum support price for all farm produce. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)
Workers put up barbed wire on top of barricades on a major highway at Singhu near New Delhi to stop thousands of protesting farmers from entering the capital, India, Tuesday, Feb.13, 2024. Farmers, who began their march from northern Haryana and Punjab states, are asking for a guaranteed minimum support price for all farm produce. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)
Protesting farmers are surrounded by tear gas near Shambhu border that divides northern Punjab and Haryana states, almost 200 km (125 miles) from New Delhi, India, Wednesday, Feb.14, 2024. Protesting Indian farmers Wednesday clashed with police for a second consecutive day as tens of thousands of them tried to march to the capital New Delhi to demand guaranteed crop prices for their produce. (AP Photo/Rajesh Sachar)
Protesting farmers are surrounded by tear gas near Shambhu border that divides northern Punjab and Haryana states, almost 200 km (125 miles) from New Delhi, India, Wednesday, Feb.14, 2024. Protesting Indian farmers Wednesday clashed with police for a second consecutive day as tens of thousands of them tried to march to the capital New Delhi to demand guaranteed crop prices for their produce. (AP Photo/Rajesh Sachar)
Farmers marching to New Delhi gather near the Punjab-Haryana border at Shambhu, India, Tuesday, Feb.13, 2024. Farmers are marching to the Indian capital asking for a guaranteed minimum support price for all farm produce. (AP Photo/Rajesh Sachar)
Farmers marching to New Delhi gather near the Punjab-Haryana border at Shambhu, India, Tuesday, Feb.13, 2024. Farmers are marching to the Indian capital asking for a guaranteed minimum support price for all farm produce. (AP Photo/Rajesh Sachar)
Farmers on tractors march to New Delhi near the Punjab-Haryana border at Shambhu, India, Tuesday, Feb.13, 2024. Farmers are marching to the Indian capital asking for a guaranteed minimum support price for all farm produce. (AP Photo/Rajesh Sachar)
Farmers on tractors march to New Delhi near the Punjab-Haryana border at Shambhu, India, Tuesday, Feb.13, 2024. Farmers are marching to the Indian capital asking for a guaranteed minimum support price for all farm produce. (AP Photo/Rajesh Sachar)
Farmers run for cover after police fired tear gas to disperse protesting farmers who were marching to New Delhi near the Punjab-Haryana border at Shambhu, India, Tuesday, Feb.13, 2024. Farmers are marching to the Indian capital asking for a guaranteed minimum support price for all farm produce. (AP Photo/Rajesh Sachar)
Farmers run for cover after police fired tear gas to disperse protesting farmers who were marching to New Delhi near the Punjab-Haryana border at Shambhu, India, Tuesday, Feb.13, 2024. Farmers are marching to the Indian capital asking for a guaranteed minimum support price for all farm produce. (AP Photo/Rajesh Sachar)
A Bharatiya Janata Party poster seeking a third term for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is seen on a barricade erected by police to stop thousands of protesting farmers from entering the capital at Singhu near New Delhi India, Tuesday, Feb.13, 2024. Farmers, who began their march from northern Haryana and Punjab states, are asking for a guaranteed minimum support price for all farm produce. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)
A Bharatiya Janata Party poster seeking a third term for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is seen on a barricade erected by police to stop thousands of protesting farmers from entering the capital at Singhu near New Delhi India, Tuesday, Feb.13, 2024. Farmers, who began their march from northern Haryana and Punjab states, are asking for a guaranteed minimum support price for all farm produce. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)
NEW DELHI (AP) — Tens of thousands of Indian farmers are protesting for guaranteed crop prices, renewing a movement that succeeded in getting contentious new agricultural laws repealed in 2021.
Earlier this week, they began marching toward New Delhi, but their efforts so far have been blocked by authorities, who have used tear gas, detained a number of farmers and heavily barricaded entry points into the capital.
Talks between the farmers and government ministers have failed to reach a breakthrough after three rounds and they have agreed to continue their discussions this weekend. Meanwhile, some farmer and trade unions plan a countrywide rural strike on Friday.
Authorities are determined to control the new demonstrations to avoid a repeat of the 2021 protests, in which tens of thousands of farmers camped outside the capital for over a year, enduring a harsh winter and a devastating COVID-19 surge.
WHY ARE FARMERS PROTESTING AGAIN?
The farmers, who rode on tractors and trucks from neighboring Haryana and Punjab states, say the government has failed to meet some of their key demands from the previous protests.
In 2021, Prime Minister Narendra Modi repealed a set of agricultural laws that the protesting farmers said would hurt their incomes.
But the leaders of the current march say the government hasn’t made progress on other important demands such as guaranteed crop prices, a doubling of farmers’ income and loan waivers. The demand for legislation that will guarantee minimum prices is at the heart of their protests.
Currently, the government protects agricultural producers against any sharp fall in farm prices by setting a minimum purchase price for certain essential crops, a system that was introduced in the 1960s to help shore up food reserves and prevent shortages. The farmers are demanding this be extended to all farm produce, and not just essential crops.
Even though the latest talks on Thursday ended without consensus, ministers afterward told local media that it was a “positive discussion” and that they were keen to make progress.
“We discussed with the aim of finding a resolution to the issues. The ministers said they require time,” Sarwan Singh Pandher, one of the farm leaders, told the Times of India.
Farmer groups say they will continue their protest, but want a peaceful resolution and are open to the discussions with the government.
WHAT HAPPENED LAST TIME?
In November 2021, Modi’s announcement that the controversial laws would be repealed was widely seen as a win for the farmers and a rare retreat by the populist leader.
The government had defended the laws as necessary reforms to modernize Indian farming, but farmers feared the government’s move to introduce market reforms in agriculture would leave them poorer.
The protests, which began in northern India, triggered nationwide demonstrations and drew international support. Dozens of farmers died due to suicides, bad weather and COVID-19.
Political commentators said the protest movement was the biggest challenge until that time for the Modi government, which then tried to paint its decision to scrap the laws as a move that prioritized farmers.
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR MODI’S GOVERNMENT?
The protests come at a important time for India, where elections are expected to be held in a few months, which Modi is widely expected to sweep to victory and secure a third successive term.
In 2021, Modi’s decision to do away with the agricultural laws was seen as a move to appease farmers ahead of crucial state polls.
Farmers form the most influential voting bloc in India and are often romanticized as the heart and soul of the nation.
Politicians have long considered it unwise to alienate them, and farmers are also particularly important to Modi’s base. Northern Haryana and a few other states with substantial farmer populations are ruled by his Bharatiya Janata Party.
If the protests were to gain the same kind of momentum as last time, it could pose a new test for Modi and his government just before the general election.
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