TCN News
Several Indian Diaspora groups across Europe submitted a common memorandum to Indian embassies in their respective countries of residence, demanding repeal of the three farm laws introduced by the BJP led government in India.
“The Diaspora laments the prolongation of the negotiations between farmers and elected officials, and assesses that the government’s proposals have not been made in good faith” the statement issued by the groups reads.
The three contentious agricultural reforms bills passed by Central government earlier in the month of August has stirred a great unrest among the Indian farmers, it poses a threat of corporatisation of agriculture and squanders the fundamental rights of the farmers. Since the bill got passed, farmers from Haryana, Punjab and all over the nation are demonstrating peaceful protests marching towards the capital, neither the curtailments of the police nor the government lowers their spirit.
The farmers have declared their intention to perform a revolutionary tractor parade as resistance on 26th January, 2021, India’s Republic Day, and there is so much anticipation in the air. And in the wake of such unconstitutional farm laws, leaders all over the world have extended their solidarity and criticised the ruling government for its authoritarian regime.
The Indian Diaspora groups have jumped into this bandwagon now, in the recently released press statement they have urged the trade unions and other civil rights advocacy group to join the endorsement and issue statements demanding, “the immediate repeal of the three farm laws [Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act], to guarantee a minimum support price for all agricultural produce, to implement the findings of the Swaminathan Commission and to convene an exclusive parliamentary session to resolve all outstanding grievances of farmers.”
The India Diaspora groups include Indian Alliance Paris and The Liberal Indians – France, Indian Solidarity Finland, Indian Solidarity Sweden, Indian Resistance Network Norway, Collective Against Violation and Abuse of Civil and Human rights (CAVACH) and India Solidarity Germany, The Crescent Hub Kuwait, EU Liberal Indians Amsterdam Chapter and The London Story The Netherlands, Scottish Indians for Justice Scotland, Canadians Against Oppression & Persecution (CAOP), Voices Against Fascism in India and The Progressive India Collective, USA, International Network of Democratic Indians Abroad (INDIA) UK, New Zealanders United To Save The Indian Constitution, the European International Solidarity for Academic Freedom In India (InSAF), and The Humanism Project, Australia.
On January 22, the groups forwarded a memorandum to the Indian embassies in their respective countries and expressed concern over the inability of the Indian government to provide a middle ground to the protesting farmers.
This international pressure comes as a great reinforcement for the awaited farmer’s rally on Republic Day and influences the government to reconsider the demands.