Striking farmers slam lack of support
INDIAN farmers angry at agricultural reforms said on Monday (1) the annual budget had failed to address their concerns, with no mention of raising incomes or generating jobs, and vowed to press on with their protests.
Tens of thousands of farmers have camped out on the outskirts of New Delhi in protest against the laws that were introduced by prime minister Narendra Modi’s government in September.
Ministers says the new regulations will open up opportunities for farmers. Protesters say the laws benefit large private buyers at the expense of growers.
In her annual budget, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman raised the target of agricultural credit to `16.5 trillion (£165 billion) from `15tr.
She also said the government would raise `300 bn in the next fiscal year with a new tax to boost agricultural infrastructure.
“Forget about these targets,” protest leader Kirankumar Visa said. “There is not even one measure to either raise farmers’ income or generate jobs in the countryside. She didn’t talk about her government’s promise of doubling farmers’ income by 2022.”
Police and paramilitary forces dug ditches and spread razor wire across main roads into New Delhi to prevent farmers entering the capital as Sitharaman prepared to deliver the annual budget in parliament.
Internet and messaging services were blocked in several neighbourhoods.
“Though the government has tried to isolate farmers by using barricades, razor wire and shutting down the internet, we are determined to carry out our peaceful protests,” said Rakesh Tikait, president of one of the largest farmers’ unions, the Bharti Kisan Union.