2020–2021 Indian farmers' protest

BY A STAFF REPORTER 

The 2020–2021 Indian farmers' protest was a protest against three farm acts that were passed by the Parliament of India in September 2020. The acts, often called the Farm Bills,have been described as "anti-farmer laws" by many farmer unions,and politicians from the opposition who say it would leave farmers at the "mercy of corporates".The farmers have also demanded the creation of a minimum support price (MSP) bill, to ensure that corporates cannot control the prices. The union 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.Related endemic legacy issues include farmer suicides and low farmer incomes. Despite India being largely self-sufficient in foodgrain production and having welfare schemes, hunger and nutrition remain serious issues, with India ranking as one of the worst countries in the world in food security parameters.

Soon after the acts were introduced, unions began holding local protests, mostly in Punjab. After two months of protests, farmer unions—mainly from Punjab and Haryana—began a movement named Dili 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. November 2020 saw a nationwide general strike in support of the farmers and thousands converging at various border points on the way to Delhi. Eleven rounds of talks took place between the central government and farmers represented by the farm unions between 14 October 2020 and 22 January 2021; all were inconclusive with agreement on only two relatively minor points.

While a section of farmer unions have been protesting, the Indian Government claims some unions have come out in support of the farm laws.By mid December, the Supreme Court of India had received a batch of petitions asking for the removal of blockades created by the protesters around Delhi.Farmers have said they will not listen to the courts if told to back off. Their leaders have also said that staying the implementation of the farm laws is not a solution.

The Supreme Court of India stayed the implementation of the farm laws in January 2021. Farmer leaders welcomed the stay order, which remains in effect.A Supreme Court appointed committee submitted its confidential report before the court on 19 March 2021. Six state governments (Kerala, Punjab, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Delhi and West Bengal) passed resolutions against the farms acts,and three states (Punjab, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan) have tabled counter-legislation in their respective state assemblies.None of the counter-legislation passed the respective state governors.

On 26 January 2021, India's Republic Day, tens of thousands of the farmers held a farmer's parade with a large convoy of tractors and drove into Delhi. The protesters deviated from the pre-sanctioned routes permitted by the Delhi Police resulting in violence and clashes with the police.Later protesters reached Red Fort and installed farmer union flags and religious flags on the mast on the rampart of the Red Fort.

On 19 November 2021, the union government decided to repeal the bills,and both houses of Parliament passed the Farm Laws Repeal Bill, 2021 on 29 November.Following the announcement of the repeal of the farm laws, farmer unions continued with the demand for guaranteed minimum support prices (MSPs), reminding the government of the aim of doubling farmers' income by 2022; and the 2004 MS Swaminathan–headed National Commission on Farmers reports.The Supreme Court appointed committee report was released by a committee member on 21 March 2022.