farmers protest essay
Answers
Answer:
Farmer unions and their representatives have demanded that the laws be repealed and have stated that they will not accept a compromise.[9][10][11][12] Farmer leaders have rejected a Supreme Court of India stay order on the implementation of the farm laws as well as the involvement of a Supreme Court appointed committee.[13] Farmer leaders have also rejected a government proposal, dated 21 January 2021, of suspending the laws for 18 months.[14] Eleven rounds of talks have taken place between the central government and farmers represented by the farm unions between 14 October 2020 and 22 January 2021; all were inconclusive.[15][14] On 3 February, farmer leaders warned of escalating the protest to overthrowing the government if the farm laws were not repealed.[16][17] However, the stay order on the implementation of the farm laws remains in effect as of 29 January,[18] and the Supreme Court appointed committee continues with its tasks related to the farm laws and have asked for suggestions from the public before 20 February 2021.[19]
The acts, often called the Farm Bills,[20] have been described as "anti-farmer laws" by many farmer unions,[21][22] and politicians from the opposition also say it would leave farmers at the "mercy of corporates".[23][24] The farmers have also demanded the creation of an Minimum Support Price (MSP) bill, to ensure that corporates cannot control the prices. The government, however, maintains that the laws will make it effortless for farmers to sell their produce directly to big buyers, and stated that the protests are based on misinformation.[25][26][27]
Soon after the acts were introduced, unions began holding local protests, mostly in Punjab. After two months of protests, farmer unions—notably from Punjab and Haryana—began a movement named Dilhi Chalo (transl. Let's go to Delhi), in which tens of thousands of farming union members marched towards the nation's capital. The Indian government ordered the police and law enforcement of various states to attack the protesters using water cannons, batons, and tear gas to prevent the farmer unions from entering into Haryana first and then Delhi. On 26 November 2020, a nationwide general strike of 250 million people, as per trade unions claim, took place in support of the farmer unions.[28] On 30 November, an estimated crowd of 200,000 and 300,000 farmers was converging at various border points on the way to Delhi.[29]
While a section of farmer unions have been protesting, the Indian Government claims some unions have come out in support of the farm laws.[30][31] Transport unions representing over 14 million truck drivers have come out in support of the farmer unions, threatening to halt movement of supplies in certain states.[32] After the government rejected the farmer unions' demands during talks on 4 December, the unions planned to escalate the action to another India-wide strike on 8 December 2020. The government offered some amendments in laws, but unions demanded a complete repeal the laws From 12 December, farmer unions took over highway toll plazas in Haryana and allowed free movement of vehicles.
By mid December, the Supreme Court of India had received a batch of petitions asking for removal blockades created by the protesters around Delhi. The court also asked the government to put the laws on hold, which they refused. On 4 January 2021 the court registered the first plea filed in favour of the protesting farmers.[38] Farmers have said they will not listen to the courts if told to back off.[39] Their leaders have also said that staying the farm laws is not a solution.
On 30 December, the Indian Government agreed to two of the farmers' demands; excluding farmers from laws curbing stubble burning and dropping amendments to the new Electricity Ordinance.