Thousands Of Indian Farmers Are Taking Their Protest To The Streets

It’s harvest season in India but this year, something is different. Instead of working in their fields, thousands of Indian farmers have packed up their trucks and tractors to take their demands straight to New Delhi. For over two years now, these hardworking folks have been asking the government for better crop prices and income but it seems their voices aren’t being heard out in the countryside. So they’re bringing their protest to the capital in hopes that someone in charge will finally listen.

Carrying flags and banners, over 10,000 Indian farmers set off from states like Punjab and Haryana this week. They rolled into the city despite police trying to block the major roads. The farmers are fed up with empty promises. Back in 2021, Prime Minister Modi did away with some farming laws after huge demonstrations. But the Indian farmers say he hasn’t come through on other vital requests since then like guaranteed rates for every product they grow.

So What Exactly Do They Want?

At the heart of it is a demand for a law to secure minimum support prices. Right now, the government protects farmers from huge price drops on key crops by setting a minimum buy rate. But the Indian farmers want this expanded to cover all agricultural goods, not just some essentials. They feel they’re taking all the risk by planting certain veggies or grains with no safety net if market prices tank. A guarantee for all harvests would offer more stability in their industry.

It remains to be seen how the Modi administration will respond this time around. The last protests in 2021 were a major challenge for his party ahead of elections. Indian farmers make up a huge voting block and politicians know not to upset them. But with big polls coming up again in a few months, the PM may not want photos of angry Indian farmers clogging the capital either. Only time will tell if their voices will finally be heard above the din of Delhi.