In a significant escalation of tensions in India, police in the capital city of Delhi resorted to the use of drones to fire tear gas shells and implemented stringent barricades, including iron nails and barbed wires, to thwart the advancing protest by farmers on Tuesday. The measures underscore the authorities' determination to prevent the demonstrators from breaching the city's borders, where all entry points were heavily fortified with concrete slabs, iron nails, and an extensive deployment of paramilitary forces.
The farmers' protest, driven by demands for a law guaranteeing minimum support prices (MSP) for crops, loan waivers, and other agricultural reforms, has seen a vast mobilization under the banners of organizations like the Samyukta Kisan Morcha and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha. The situation escalated at the Shambhu border near Ambala, about 200 kilometers north of Delhi, where police employed tear gas and water cannons to disperse the crowd.
Amid the chaos, social media became a platform for viral videos depicting the confrontation, including one where an injured protester was seen receiving aid after being struck in the eyes. Sarwan Singh Pandher, a prominent farmer leader, described the day's events as a "black day in Indian history," condemning the use of force against peaceful protesters and vowing to intensify the agitation.
The farmers' grievances center around the establishment of MSP for all crops, a mechanism by which the government sets a predetermined price for purchasing agricultural products, safeguarding farmers against market volatility and ensuring fair compensation. Additional demands include debt forgiveness, enhanced pensions for farmers and farm laborers, increased wages, and more workdays under the government's MGNREGA scheme, which provides rural households with a guarantee of 100 days of unskilled manual labor annually.
The protesters also seek justice and compensation for the families of farmers who lost their lives during the 2020-2021 demonstrations against three controversial farm bills that aimed to liberalize the agricultural sector. Despite the government's withdrawal of these bills in 2021 and a promise to establish a committee to explore support prices for crops, the farmers accuse the ruling BJP government of reneging on its commitments.
This ongoing conflict highlights the deep-rooted issues in India's agricultural sector and the growing discontent among the farming community, which forms a significant portion of the country's population. As the protests gain momentum, the government's response and the potential for dialogue remain critical factors in resolving the crisis and addressing the farmers' longstanding demands.
