With support from celebrities and activists, India's farmers continue to protest against agricultural laws
Man sitting in a farmer's camp in New Delhi. Image credit: Randeep Maddoke, Wikimedia
For months, thousands of India’s farmers have been protesting through New Delhi against changes to the agricultural law proposed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Farmers fear the law will end guaranteed prices for their crops. Agricultural workers make up more than half of India’s labour force. The growth of wages has been slowing since 2014.
Why should we care about this in the UK?
1.
Campaigners say: “No farmers, no food.” Flour and spices are just some of the products we get from India. The UK has been influenced by Indian cuisine to create its own take on curry in the form of chicken tikka masala, which was named Britain's national dish in 2001.
2.
Protesters sit with flags in hand. Image credit: Randeep Maddoke, Wikimedia
The protests have been compared to the Black Lives Matter movement due to the impact on Indians globally. More than half of Indian farmers are in debt, contributing to more than 20,000 suicides since 2018. People fear that these reforms will make matters worse.
3.
Protesters of all ages. Singhu Border, NewDelhi. Image credit: Harvinder Chandigarh, Wikimedia
Indians are the second-largest ethnic group in England and Wales. Many British-Indians have family members directly impacted by the reforms. Those who don’t are likely to have ancestry linked in farming, creating a larger-scale effect on Britons.