India’s Republic Day farmers’ protests turn violent

Violence broke out in New Delhi, India’s capital, on Tuesday, when thousands of farmers protesting the government’s agricultural reform projects set up tractors, crossed police barriers and clashed with police.

Farmers’ unions have devised a plan for a peaceful march to the capital on Republic Day, which celebrates the signing of India’s constitution. The Indian government has approved a plan for farmers – who have been protesting for months – to enter the city at noon. But the farmers’ plans went awry when some protesters started marching towards the capital a few hours ahead of schedule, resulting in a confrontation with the police, who used tear gas and batons to try to stop them.

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As farmers abandoned approved routes, fierce battles broke out across the city. A farmer was crushed when his tractor was among the many vehicles overturned in the confusion. Reports indicate that at least 19 people involved in the clashes have been sent to two hospitals in New Delhi. According to the police, at least 86 policemen were also injured.

In a statement, Eish Singal, of the New Delhi police, said the protesters broke the agreements made before the demonstration. “The farmers started the tractor rally before the scheduled time, they also resorted to violence and vandalism.”

Farmers, many of whom were Sikhs from the Indian states of Punjab and Haryana, also entered New Delhi’s historic Red Fort and hoisted the Nishan Sahib, an important flag for India’s Sikh communities.

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The Joint Farmers Front, which represents several Indian farmers’ unions, issued a statement on Tuesday condemning the clashes and separating itself from protesters who engaged in the violence. “We condemn and regret the undesirable and unacceptable events that occurred today and dissociate ourselves from those who practice such acts,” says the statement.

The statement also said that unions made efforts to keep the events peaceful, but “some organizations and individuals have violated the route and indulged in condemned acts”.

Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, who represents Punjab, where many farmers come from, wrote in Twitter that the violence was “unacceptable” and urged “all genuine farmers to leave Delhi and return to the borders”, referring to the areas around Delhi where farmers were camped for weeks in protest.

Why farmers are still protesting

Thousands of farmers have been blocking several roads to New Delhi for more than two months demanding the repeal of three laws that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party passed in September. as part of a plan to make India a $ 5 trillion economy by 2024.

The laws, which some experts say are needed to modernize India’s economy, remove long-standing restrictions on how and where products are sold. Farmers who used to sell their products in government-authorized markets, called mandis, can now sell wherever they want.

But farmers fear that the reforms will leave them at the mercy of large corporations that will buy their crops at low prices, leading to their financial ruin.

John Minchillo / AP

In response to months of protests that left dozens of farmers dead, the Indian government offered to suspend the laws for 18 months. However, farmers’ unions refused to end their protest until the laws were fully retracted.

After an 11th round of negotiations ended without a resolution on 22 January, farmers decided to increase the Modi government’s excitement by driving tractors to the capital during Republic Day celebrations.

Farmers planned a walking march to the parliament building on February 1, while the government determines its budget.