BHAINSWAL (INDIA) – Thousands of farmers in a politically important Indian state on Friday, took to rallies opposing new agricultural laws, indicating growing support for a months-long campaign.
Much of the initial support for the protests has come from rice and wheat growers from northern India, mainly opposition-ruled Punjab.
As a sign of a increasing number of people raising their voices against the same to the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, thousands of farmers rallied on Friday in Uttar Pradesh state to show their support for the protests.
“Everybody here is going to join the movement,” said Jitendra Singh, 55, a sugarcane farmer at the rally in Bhainswal village.
The farmers say the laws mean the end of the support prices for their crops, which continued for a long period of time and will leave them with no choice but to fall prey to the whims of big buyers. They are demanding that the laws be annulled.
The government says reform of the agriculture sector will open up new avenues for farmers and while it has provided some concessions, it has cancelled out any chance of withdrawing the laws.
Celebrities including pop star Rihanna and environment campaigner Greta Thunberg have announced their support for the farmers.