Thousands of Indian farmers gather in capital to press for ‘minimum crop prices’

By Ahmad Adil

NEW DELHI (AA) - Thousands of farmers on Thursday gathered in the national capital New Delhi to press the government to bring legislation for minimum support prices for all crops besides other demands.

Farmers traveled in trains and buses to reach the capital to attend a daylong rally organized at the capital’s iconic Ramlila ground.

Last month, dozens of farmers' unions from Punjab, a northwestern state that is considered the country's food basket, called for a "Delhi Chalo," or "March to Delhi."

On Feb. 13, however, when farmers in hundreds of tractors and trolleys attempted to enter Haryana state, which borders New Delhi, they clashed with police after they were stopped from entering Haryana. Since then, they have been camping at the Punjab- Haryana borders and halted the Delhi March.

On Thursday, a large number of farmers reached Delhi to participate in the gathering following a call given by Samyukt Kisan Morcha – a body representing farmer unions, which led the 2020-21 farmers' protests against the now repealed farm laws.

At the Ramlila ground, farmers who also raised slogans against the federal government stressed that the ruling party should listen to them.

“A large number of people have come here today. Narendra Modi is the prime minister of everyone, he should listen to us,” Gurjant Singh, a farmer from northern Punjab state, told Anadolu. He said a group of 40 people from his village arrived to participate in the rally.

Amravati, a woman farmer from northern Uttar Pradesh state, told Anadolu that farmers in the country are suffering and she came to Delhi today to make the government listen to their voice. “Whatever is being demanded are genuine demands. They need to be heard and fulfilled,” she said.

Today’s protest rally has come weeks ahead of the national election to be held in April-May, with Modi eyeing to secure a third term.

At Thursday's rally, the speakers addressing the farmers said their fight will continue until demands are met.

“Our fight will not stop and it will continue,” said Darshan Pal, a farm leader.

Among the demands during Thursday’s protest include legislation for a minimum support price, comprehensive loan waivers for farmers and the launch of a judicial inquiry into the killing of a young farmer, who died in clashes between farmers and security personnel on Feb. 21.

Meanwhile, security was strengthened at the venue in view of the protest march.

Ahead of the rally, the Delhi police had issued a traffic advisory on Wednesday saying “a huge gathering of people from all parts of India is expected to attend the protest.”

The Delhi Police gave permission to the farmers to hold the event on the conditions that there would not be a gathering of more than 5,000 people and no tractor-trolleys, the Press Trust of India news agency reported.

Earlier, there have been several rounds of talks between farmers and the government.

Farmers' leaders during the talks rejected the government's proposal for five-year contracts and guaranteed support prices for crops such as pulses, corn, and cotton, saying they want a legally guaranteed minimum support price for all crops across the country.