Indian police used tear gas on Friday to disperse farmers attempting to march to New Delhi in a revived protest demanding guaranteed minimum prices for their crops. The demonstration, echoing the massive 2021 protests, saw thousands of farmers mobilize in defiance of heavy police barricades.
The protest, known as the “March to Delhi,” resumed earlier this week after months of dormancy. Farmers aimed to rekindle the momentum of their previous campaign, during which they stormed the capital with tractors to oppose contentious agricultural reforms.
Authorities fortified the march route at Shambhu, about 200 kilometers north of New Delhi, with concrete barricades and razor wire to halt the procession. Mobile internet services in the area were also suspended to limit communication among demonstrators.
Despite the measures, farmers waving blue and yellow flags broke through part of the barricades before being stopped by police.
“In February, we held four rounds of talks with the government, but since then, there have been no further discussions on our demands,” said Sarwan Singh Pandher, a farmer leader, speaking to reporters. “We want the government to let us exercise our democratic right to protest.”
Farmers are demanding the government introduce legislation guaranteeing minimum prices for their crops, along with other concessions such as loan waivers and increased compensation for government-acquired land.
The timing of the protests is significant, as India’s national parliament is currently in session. Farmers, who constitute a substantial voting bloc, hold considerable political sway. According to government statistics, two-thirds of India’s 1.4 billion people rely on agriculture for their livelihood, contributing nearly one-fifth of the country’s GDP.
The recent march draws parallels with the farmers’ protests of November 2020, which became one of the largest challenges to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration. Those demonstrations, opposing three controversial farm laws, persisted for over a year and ultimately forced Modi to repeal the legislation in November 2021.
While Friday’s clashes were less severe than those during the earlier protests, the renewed agitation underscores farmers’ persistent discontent and the government’s struggles to address the agricultural sector’s deep-seated issues.
Observers note that the government’s response in the coming days will be critical in determining whether the demonstrations gain further traction or subside. For now, the confrontation at Shambhu is a stark reminder of the unresolved tensions in India’s agriculture policy and the power of its farmers to shape the nation’s political discourse.
