Indian farmers protesting at Delhi border regions are gaining national as well as international support in their fight against the unfair Farm laws which have been identified to be having glaring loopholes. The Congressman and Co-Chair of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans, Brad Sherman expressed his views on the matter saying that it is ‘unsurprising’ to see the Indian farmers protesting against the agricultural reforms in this time of the Covid-19 pandemic.

In a series of tweets, Sherman said that being the chairperson of the Caucus on Indians and Indian Americans, he has been able to ‘champion’ the relationship between the two democracies which is built on the values and interests of both countries.

Sherman’s tweet reads, “As chair of the Caucus on India & Indian Americans, I have proudly championed the close partnership between the world’s largest and oldest democracies. It’s a partnership built on both interests and values, including a shared dedication to human rights and freedom of speech.”  He further added that the peaceful protests by the Indian farmers are a powerful example of how the peaceful protests are in harmony with the right to freedom of speech and expression, which is one of the most “cherished democratic traditions”.

David G Valadao, the Congressman-elect also supported the Indian farmers by saying that the Government of India should allow the peaceful protests to take place as they exercise their right to assemble, being the citizens of a democratic country.

In response to this, various government officials of India have called these remarks by international politicians as “unwarranted and ill-informed”. India suggests that this is a matter of internal affairs and people from outside the nation shall not be concerned if they do not have the entire information.

The 3 new Farm laws introduced by the GOI are said to bring better opportunities to the farmers with reforms in technologies used. The GOI believes that the laws will bring major agricultural reforms in India. However, the farmers have called them as ‘anti-farmer’ laws, as they would completely dismantle the support of Minimum Support Price (MSP) to the farmers, leaving them completely at the ‘mercy’ of larger corporations.

Since November 26, various farmers from Haryana, Punjab, and other states have been protesting on the borders of Delhi demanding the repeal of the 3 anti-farmer laws. The multiple rounds of talks between the agitated farmers and the GOI have not succeeded so far. The late-night meeting held recently, by the Home-Minister Amit Shah did not succeed as the farmers rejected negotiation or amendment in the laws, saying that they would not settle for anything less than repealing these unfair laws.

As part of the protests, the farmers had called for a Bharat Bandh movement which was supported by countless people, traders, transport unions, farmers, politicians in Indian, and people from all around the globe. After the Bharat Bandh, the farmers are planning to block roads, toll plazas, and gherao the BJP leaders across the country. The farmers have planned for a large scale protest on December 14 and gradual large-scale boycott of Reliance malls & petrol pumps, and Jio connections. The protests are set to escalate with determined farmers getting motivated through support pouring in from all directions.