Protests erupt in Punjab over new bills infringing on farmer’s rights

Thousands of farmers are protesting in Punjab against three bills being introduced by the government that infringe upon farmers’ rights. Protests organised by 31 different agricultural organisations have erupted in 125 different sites across Punjab against the bills, which they say will effectively “enslave” farmers.

65 farmers have already committed suicide since the announcement of the bills, according to local reports. Farmers are blaming the high rate of suicides in the amount of debt they are having to incur, due to the low and diminishing prices they receive from the Government for their produce.

There is a lot of anger in Punjab over the passing of three controversial bills, particularly the Farmer Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, which seeks to simplify the entry of private players in food grain purchase.

The Indian government has been imposing trade prices and quantity limits on farmers for several decades which have resulted in thousands of farmer suicides each year. With the introduction of the new bills, farmers suspect that the government will withdraw from guaranteed prices for foodgrains. They have organised large-scale action to counter the measures.

The protests began on Sunday after President Ram Nath Kovind gave his assent to the three contentious bills before proper rules and procedures were followed, despite pleas from opposition parties.

Prime minister Narendra Modi called the laws a “watershed moment” in the history of Indian agriculture, “which will empower millions of farmers”.

Nationwide farmers protest and #BharatBandh today. Farmers across India protest #FarmBill2020 https://t.co/KeXttH89T7

— Sagarika Ghose (@sagarikaghose) September 25, 2020

The issue has generated a lot of interest on social, where the hashtag #BharatBandh (India closed) has been trending.

India’s political parties in the state have even offered their help to the protesting farmers, but their offer of help has been refused. 

Punjab chief minister captain Amarinder Singh has met the representatives of various farmers’ organisations in an attempt to assure them of his help in combatting the bills.

“Met with representatives of various Farmer Organisations of Punjab. My Govt will fight till the very last to save our farmers & their livelihoods. We are exploring all legal avenues against these Anti-Farmer Legislations and would not let our farmers be affected in any way,” he tweeted.