Protests By Farmers Spread Across India

New Dehi, India —(Map)

Tens of thousands of farmers have been protesting across India for two weeks, hoping to force the government to drop new laws that will affect how farmers sell their crops. The protests have been supported by many other groups in India.

In September, India’s parliament approved three new laws which affect farmers. The most important will allow farmers to sell to private companies. That’s a big change. In the past, Indian farmers sold their crops to the government for prices that were set ahead of time, known as the “minimum support price” (MSP).

Tens of thousands of farmers have been protesting across India for two weeks, hoping to force the government to drop new laws that will affect how farmers sell their crops. Above, farmers protesting near Delhi on Tuesday.

The government says the changes will give farmers more freedom and let them earn more money. The farmers worry that without government support, private companies will pay them far less.

More than 85% of India’s farmers run small farms. They are afraid that large farming companies could sell crops to big companies at prices that are too low for smaller farms to match. Without the MSP, smaller farmers are afraid they’ll be forced out of business.

Indians depend heavily on farming, and not just for food. Around 60% of India’s people depend, in one way or another, on money from farming. This has helped attract a lot of support for the farmers’ protests.

More than 85% of India’s farmers run small farms. They are afraid that large farming companies could sell crops to big companies at prices that are too low for smaller farms to match. Above, a farmer checks his crops after a storm last year.

On November 26, there was a national general strike in support of the farmers. It’s believed that around 250 million people took part in the strike, making it the largest strike ever. Teachers, truck drivers, railway workers, and others supported the farmers.

Later, farmers surrounded the country’s capital, New Delhi. Since then, protests have spread across the country. In several places, highways and railway lines have been blocked by protesting farmers.

The protests have become more political in recent days, as opposition leaders have taken the side of farmers. They are accusing the government of not allowing the farmers to express their opinions. In response, the government has arrested several opposition leaders

One of the opposition leaders targeted by the government is Arvind Kejriwal, the leader of Delhi. Mr. Kejriwal has met with the farmers and supports them. He said, “Today, the country’s farmers are in trouble. It is our duty as Indians to stand with them and serve them.”

One of the opposition leaders targeted by the government is Arvind Kejriwal, the leader of Delhi. Mr. Kejriwal has met with the farmers and supports them. Above, government police block off Mr. Kejriwal’s house, preventing him from having visitors.

The size and strength of the protests seems to have taken Mr. Modi’s government by surprise. Though the government has ignored many other large protests in the past, this time, it has met with leaders from farmers groups at least six times.

One reason that Mr. Modi’s government has been willing to talk with the farmers is because there are so many of them. As a politician, Mr. Modi can’t afford to ignore such a large group of voters who could turn against him and his political party in the next election.

The two sides show little sign of reaching an agreement. The government has offered to change parts of the new farming laws, but the farmers are still demanding that the laws be completely dropped. Above, protesters blocking a highway in Mumbai on Tuesday.

Still the two sides show little sign of reaching an agreement. The government is reported to have offered to change parts of the new farming laws, but the farmers are still demanding that the laws be completely dropped.