India: Farmers’ Protest enters day 3

What is the protest about?

• The protest is about the new farm laws passed by the Indian government in 2020, which the farmers say will hurt their livelihoods and benefit big corporations.
• The farmers want a law that guarantees a minimum support price (MSP) for all crops, which is the benchmark price set by the government to protect farmers from market fluctuations.
• The government argues that the new laws will liberalize the agricultural sector and give farmers more choices and opportunities to sell their produce.

What is the current situation?

• The protest has entered its third day, with tens of thousands of farmers camping on the outskirts of Delhi, the capital city.
• The farmers have faced clashes with the security forces, who have used tear gas, water cannons, and rubber bullets to stop them from entering the city.
• The farmers have also announced a nationwide strike on December 8, which will affect essential services and transport.
• The government and the farmer leaders are gearing up for a third round of talks today, after the previous two rounds failed to reach a consensus.

What are the implications?

• The protest is one of the largest and longest in India’s history, involving farmers from several states and different political affiliations.
• The protest has drawn international attention and support from various celebrities, activists, and organizations, who have expressed solidarity with the farmers and criticized the government’s response.
• The protest has also exposed the deep-rooted problems of the agricultural sector in India, such as low incomes, high debts, climate change, and lack of infrastructure and innovation.