Why India's farmers are protesting again
Unions march towards capital as government accused of failing to keep promises made after 2020-21 demonstrations
![Protesters are pictured being targeted with tear gas](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/axfHjwLjNryMHBmNeiLnEA-415-80.png)
Thousands of farmers are taking their tractors to India's streets to demand government action over crop prices and regulations.
The "Delhi Chalo", or "Let's go to Delhi" march, said Reuters, has "brought back memories of the chaos" of 2020-21, when millions of farmers united to protest against the introduction of three agriculture laws.
The year-long uprising posed one of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "biggest challenges", said the BBC. And with the country now just weeks away from a general election, his government won't want to lose the support of farmers, who are the "most influential voting bloc in India".
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
![https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516-320-80.jpg)
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
What do India's farmers want?
The "headline demand" of the farmers' 12-point agenda is that a minimum support price (MSP) must be legally guaranteed, said The Indian Express. The MSP provides a "safety net" for farming communities, said Al Jazeera, by setting the price at which the government buys crops. But while the MSP provides an "assured" income amid "market uncertainties", farmers want it increased to at least 50% higher than the cost of producing the crops.
Organisers are also calling for farm loans to be waived; for policies that allegedly "hurt" farmers to be overturned; and for farmers to receive pensions. They also want India to withdraw from the World Trade Organization (WTO) and for all free trade agreements to be frozen.
The movement's leaders claim members of more than 200 unions are now participating in the protest march, "under the banner" of the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM), said The Indian Express. Talks between the unions and the government have so far been "inconclusive", said Sky News.
What happened in 2020-21?
The introduction of three "controversial" agricultural reforms in 2020 sparked a "massive" protest, said the BBC. The proposed laws "loosened" rules around the sale, price and storage of farm produce, which had "protected farmers from the free market for decades".
The demonstrations "descended into violence several times", said Sky News. Farmers "hunkered down, encircling the capital and blocking key highways" before Modi repealed the laws in November 2021. "Dozens" died during the protests.
The farmers are now calling for promises made by the government back then to be delivered. These include providing compensation for the families of farmers who died during the protests and the formation of a committee focused on providing price guarantees.
How has the government responded?
Delhi has been "converted into a fortress", said Al Jazeera. Some of the city's entry points have been blocked with "barriers of barbed wire, spikes and cement blocks".
Drones dropped tear gas on thousands of farmers along the border between Punjab and Haryana earlier this week, and police and paramilitary officers are "stationed all along the highways" to block "tractor convoys" from getting to the capital, said Sky News.
With India's general election due to take place between April and May, and farmers comprising around two-thirds of the country's population, the government "will be keen to contain" the disruption and "not repeat past mistakes".
Yet farmers have described talks with Modi's government so far as "delaying tactics", said the BBC. Setting the stage for another long-running protest, the movement's leaders say they have the resources to camp out for at least six months if necessary.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Julia O'Driscoll is the engagement editor. She covers UK and world news, as well as writing lifestyle and travel features. She regularly appears on “The Week Unwrapped” podcast, and hosted The Week's short-form documentary podcast, “The Overview”. Julia was previously the content and social media editor at sustainability consultancy Eco-Age, where she interviewed prominent voices in sustainable fashion and climate movements. She has a master's in liberal arts from Bristol University, and spent a year studying at Charles University in Prague.
-
Paraguay's dangerous dalliance with cryptocurrency
Under The Radar Overheating Paraguayans are pushing back over power outages caused by illegal miners
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
The Week contest: Tattoo prediction
Puzzles and Quizzes
By The Week US Published
-
Escape seaside in Newport, Rhode Island
The Week Recommends For the quintessential New England experience, head to the Classic Coast
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US Published
-
The convention speakers whose political stars rose
The Explainer Why you're likely to see the future leaders of the Democratic and Republican Parties at the conventions
By David Faris Published
-
Venezuela election: first vote in a decade offers hope to poverty-stricken nation
The Explainer Nicolás Maduro agreed to 'free and fair' vote but poor polling and threat of prosecution pushes disputed leader to desperate methods
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
How political violence has influenced US elections
The Explainer Failed assassinations haven't always helped candidates at the ballot box
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
How do political conventions work?
The Explainer The process of choosing a party's nominee has several moving parts
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
'Even with the incumbency factor, the center-left can win and win big'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
General election: will tactical voting make a difference?
The Explainer There is a 'mixed mood' within parties about the capability of voting tactically
By The Week UK Published
-
Why does Trump talk about sharks so much?
The Explainer How to understand the former president's comments on one of nature's perfect killing machines
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
How the UK's elections work
The Explainer Everything you need to know about the mad dash to the finish in the UK
By David Faris Published