2020–2021 Indian farmers' protest
The 2020–2021 Indian farmers' protest is an ongoing protest against three farm acts that were passed by the Parliament of India in September 2020. The acts, often called the Farm Bills, have been described as "anti-farmer laws" by many farmer unions, and politicians from the opposition who say it would leave farmers at the "mercy of corporates". All the three farm bills were repealed by Indian Government on 19th November 2021.
Quotes
[edit]- Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has taken the unprecedented step of invoking the Emergencies Act to crack down on anti-vaccine mandate protests... Critics have noted that the prime minister voiced support for farmers in India who blocked major highways to New Delhi for a year in 2021, saying at the time: "Canada will always be there to defend the right of peaceful protest."
- BBC, Feb 2022, as quoted in Trudeau vows to freeze anti-mandate protesters' bank accounts
On Government of India announcing repeal
[edit]- After the announcement of the repeal of the three farm laws, there is no point in continuing farmers' agitation. I urge farmers to end their agitation and go home.
- Agriculture Minister of India Narendra Singh Tomar. The Hindu
- We have discussed the repeal of farm laws. After this, some decisions were taken. The pre-decided programmes of the SKM (Sanyukta Kisam Morcha, an umbrella body of farmers) will continue as it is.
After Farm laws repealed
[edit]- It was November 26, 2020. While removing the barricades, Haryana Police had hit me with batons on my shoulder, knees and thighs but instead of running away, I stayed there with deep bruises and injuries. Noticing the police brutality, youth got provoked and they shielded me. I still get goosebumps whenever people ask me about that day. But I am a happy farmer today because we fought hard to save our lands and earned a victory.
- Sukhdev Singh, a protestor from Kapurthala district in Punjab whose "iconic" photo went viral in which police was hitting him while he was heading towards protest in Delhi. The Wire
- It is an emotional moment for us. We never thought it will be this hard to go back home as we have established a deep connection with the people and the place. This agitation will be in our memories forever.
- Gurvinder Singh from Ambala, Haryana. NDTV
- Today is just a day to remember that for the last one year, the meaning of Chardham has changed in our country. People from Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu used to come and say that they wanted to do a yatra of four places -- the Singhu border, the Tikri border, the Ghazipur border and the Shahjahanpur border. These (protest sites) had become Chardham for the country.
- Political party Swaraj India president Yogendra Yadav said in a gathering at the Ghazipur border. New Indian Express
- We haven't just won Dilli, we have won over the hearts of people.
- Arjun Singh, a protesting farmer from Haryana. The Quint
- Some of the sturdier structures set up at the protest site are yet to be removed. Once those are cleared tomorrow, the rubble on the road removed, and repairs done, it might be possible to consider opening the highway to traffic two days later.
- A Delhi Police officer. The Indian Express
- I congratulate the farmers on their victory today. But, 700 farmers lost their lives during their year-long protest against farm laws. We will always stand with and for the farmers.
- Political party Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) Member of Parliament Harsimrat Kaur Badal told ANI. India Today
