British MPs seek Boris Johnson to talk PM Modi over ongoing Indian Farmers Protest

The British MPs wants PM Boris Johnson to intervene and discuss with his Indian Counterpart PM Modi over ongoing Indian Farmers Protest in New Delhi.

Thousands of Indian farmers protesting against the deregulation of agriculture markets are drawing strength from Sikhs worldwide who are urging foreign governments to intercede with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Farmers, mostly from the Sikh-dominated state of Punjab, have been camped on New Delhi’s borders since last month, demanding Modi roll back the reforms intended to bring investment in the antiquated farm sector which the farmers say will leave them at the mercy of big corporations.

In a letter, the British MPs have called Johnson to press for a “speedy resolution of the current deadlock and the democratic human right of citizens to protest peacefully”. The Constituents of these MPs include a huge population of the Indian diaspora, with many from agriculture backgrounds. While over ten rounds of talks have been held between farmer unions and the central government at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi, the deadlock over the farm laws continues. The farmers have demanded a total withdrawal of the three laws, which the government has refused.

Slough MP Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi shared the letter of 5 January on Twitter Friday. It came the same day British PM Boris Johnson cancelled his scheduled trip to India as a chief guest on Republic Day, amid a growing crisis created by the new force of the novel coronavirus in the UK.

Mr Singh Tweeted, “Many constituents, especially those emanating from Punjab (Indian State) and other parts of India, were terrified to see the use of water cannons, tear gas and brute force being used on hundreds of thousands of peacefully protesting farmers. The issue has so stirred the Indian diaspora community, especially those of Punjabi or Sikh background, and others who have land or links to farming in India, that tens of thousands fastened in global protests, including in towns and cities across the UK,” the letter noted. As temperatures rush in India’s national capital, tens of thousands of people are out on Delhi roads to protest laws passed by Parliament that they believe are unjust.

“Through these agricultural reforms, we have given better options to the farmers,” PM Narendra Modi said in his recent live conference. He repeated that the laws were a much-needed reform that would benefit farmers and accused opposition parties of spreading fears of farmers’ exploitation by corporations. “Those making big speeches today did nothing for farmers when they were in power,” Prime Minister Modi said.

PM Modi’s outreach comes a day after India’s main opposition party called for a special parliamentary session to withdraw the new laws.

PM Modi wants to help a few business people, by introducing these farm laws, said Rahul Gandhi, a senior leader from the opposition Congress party. India’s legendary farmers, often called “annadatta,” or “providers,” have long been seen as the heart and soul of a country where nearly 60% of the total Indian population depends on agriculture for their livelihoods. But farmers’ economic balance has diminished over the last three decades. Once accounting for a third of India’s gross domestic product, they account for only 15% of the country’s $2.8 trillion economy.