Washington:
Several US lawmakers have voiced their assistance for farmers agitating in India against the new farm laws and urged that they be permitted to protest peacefully.
India has referred to as the remarks by foreign leaders on protests by farmers as “ill-informed” and “unwarranted” as the matter pertained to the internal affairs of a democratic nation.
“I stand in solidarity with the Punjabi farmers in India protesting for their livelihoods and protection from misguided, manipulative government regulations,” Congressman Doug LaMalfa stated on Monday.
“Punjabi farmers must be allowed to protest peacefully against their government without fear of violence,” stated the Republican lawmaker who represents Californian’s 1st Congressional district.
Thousands of farmers from Punjab, Haryana and quite a few other states have been protesting on numerous borders of Delhi considering the fact that November 26, searching for repeal of 3 farm laws enacted in September.
Dubbing these laws as “anti-farmer”, these farmers claim that the newly enacted legislations would pave the way for the dismantling of the minimum assistance price tag technique, leaving them at the “mercy” of huge corporations.
However, the government has maintained that the new laws will bring farmers greater possibilities and usher in new technologies in agriculture.
“India is the world’s largest Democracy – they owe it to their citizens to allow peaceful protest. I encourage these folks and PM (Narendra) Modi to have peaceful, productive discussions,” Democratic Congressman Josh Harder stated.
Congressman T J Cox stated India will have to uphold the ideal to peaceful demonstration and guarantee their citizens” security.
The rights of farmers protesting will have to be respected and meaningful dialogue is the way forward, the Democratic leader asserted.
Congressman Andy Levin stated he is inspired by the movement of farmers in India.
“I see it as a harbinger of a people power year in 2021,” the Democratic lawmaker stated.
The farmers protest has also caught the consideration of the mainstream US media.
“The protests have spread beyond New Delhi. Farmers marched and waved banners in the southern states of Kerala and Karnataka and in the northeastern state of Assam. Sugarcane farmers in Uttar Pradesh, who would be less affected by the farm overhaul, set up a protest camp in solidarity, clogging a central artery on the state’s border with Delhi,” The New York Times reported.
According to a CNN report, “Tens of thousands of farmers have swarmed India’s capital exactly where they intend to camp out for weeks to protest new agricultural laws that they say could destroy their livelihoods.
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