ISLAMABAD: Thousands of Indian farmers from neighboring states of the country are marching towards the capital city of Delhi to press for their demands, primarily seeking assured prices for their crops. Led by the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha, a non-political organization, the farmers are demanding a guaranteed minimum support price (MSP) for their agricultural produce.
The ongoing protest strengthened after two rounds of talks between farmers union leaders and federal ministers failed to break the deadlock. The key demands of the protesting farmers include the fulfillment of the government’s promise to double farmers’ income and the implementation of MSP, which allows them to sell their produce at government-controlled wholesale markets. These demands were not fulfilled by the Indian government despite giving assurance in 2020.
The protests, which mainly originated from Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh states, have gained momentum despite challenges posed by the Narendra Modi-led Indian government. The Indian government considers and equates the protesting farmers as Khalistanis as the Modi regime comes hard on them despite their legitimate demands. The police have sealed border areas of Delhi in a cowardly attempt to prevent a repeat of the prolonged 2020 protests, where farmers camped for months in protest against their systematic economic persecution.
Dozens of farmers had lost their lives in 2020 in protests against the BJP regime for their systematic economic persecution, and it is feared that this commotion might turn bloody, keeping in view Modi’s highhandedness and ruthless perspective.
The situation has been further exacerbated by human rights violations in India, including the shutdown of the internet in Punjab to suppress information about the protests and ongoing brutalities along with restrictions on gatherings, which many view as a violation of law and constitutional rights.
Plight of Indian Farmers in Modi Govt
The plight of Indian farmers highlights a broader trend of marginalization under the Hindu nationalist agenda of the Modi regime. It’s evident that Modi is turning India into Hindu Rashtriya India, where there is no place for working classes other than Hindus, who are responsible for the bread and butter of the country. The government must address the legitimate grievances of the farming community and engage in meaningful dialogue to find equitable solutions.
It is high time for Indian farmers and other marginalized people to disenchant from the rosy discourses of the Modi regime and use their votes to decimate the BJP in upcoming elections.
The plight of farmers, the very foundation of any nation’s prosperity, cannot be ignored. Across Punjab’s golden fields and the fertile plains of Haryana, a wave of discontent is on the rise, urging the Modi government to listen. What is needed is not mere rhetoric or hollow pledges but substantive, actionable solutions on the part of the government.
Instead of resorting to brutal tactics, the government must engage in genuine dialogue with the farmers, acknowledging their grievances and aspirations. Modi government must adopt policies that empower rather than appease, fostering a climate of inclusivity and empowerment within the agricultural community.
