India: farmers begin a new showdown with the ruling party
Farmers burn a mannequin bearing the likeness of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 31, 2022. AFP - NARINDER NANU
Text by: Côme Bastin Follow
3 mins
In India, farmers surrounded New Delhi during 2021 to protest against the reform of the agricultural sector.
They are now returning to the forefront of the political scene.
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From our correspondent in Bangalore,
Until mid-December 2021, farmers have fought for more than a year against laws liberalizing the agricultural sector, which they fear will leave them at the mercy of the market.
They lifted their seat after the government promised to reverse this reform.
But officially the movement has never ended and if it is regaining strength today it is because the agricultural unions believe that
the promises of the ruling BJP party
have not been honored at all.
“
The government was supposed to drop the charges against the farmers who protested.
The families of those who perished during the struggle should be compensated.
Negotiations were also promised to ensure minimum selling prices for the peasants.
When we left Delhi, we gave the government a month.
But the ruling BJP does not take us seriously.
On the contrary, we saw the Minister of Agriculture talking about reintroducing his reforms!
“explains Guramneet Singh Mangat, the secretary general of the Progressive Farmers Front.
“
No Vote To BJP
”
So the union of all the protesting unions, on the decision of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha, called last week to “
punish the BJP
”.
But this time there is no question of taking over the capital again, the movement intends to interfere in the ongoing electoral battle for the BJP.
And not just any since it is the legislative elections of Uttar Pradesh, the most populous state in India, where the Hindu nationalist party is playing its re-election.
Since Sunday February 6, a door-to-door campaign has been launched by farmers and supporters of their cause.
With a message: “
No Vote To BJP
”, not a voice for the BJP.
This strategy was already put in place during the elections in Bengal last year, which the BJP ultimately lost.
But farmers are now attacking a state where the ruling party is well established and wants to keep it at all costs.
It is in
Uttar Pradesh that Narendra Modi
built a new temple dedicated to the god Ram and renovated Varanasi, the sacred city of Hindus.
The Prime Minister also held a virtual meeting on Monday February 7 to support Yogi Adityanath, Chief Minister of the State.
The BJP is currently rather a winner.
But the farmers' movement could represent a real threat if it manages to mobilize enough volunteers and convince.
Activists can count for this on popular figures such as farmer Rikesh Tikait, a former supporter who is now firing red balls against the ruling party.
Sensing the danger coming, the BJP published a manifesto on Sunday promising jobs and aid for peasants.
The battle promises to be very tense until March 7, the end date of the campaign
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India
Agriculture and Fishing
Narendra Damodardas Modi