Members of the Okanagan Valley鈥檚 Punjabi community gathered at Prospera Place in 91大黄鸭 Sunday afternoon (Dec. 6) in support of Indian farmers.
The demonstration took to the road, with a kilometres-long line of sign-donning, honking vehicles taking over the centre lane of Highway 97 as they made their way to Prospera Place. The protest 鈥� comprised of several local farmers of Indian heritage 鈥� is one of many that have taken place across Canada in recent weeks against several new agricultural laws imposed in September by the Indian government.
Those laws, in part, allow farmers to sell products directly to private buyers, rather than middlemen adhering to the state-controlled minimum support price (MSP), which since 2009 has safeguarded farmers鈥� profits. While Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has stated the laws will allow farmers to earn more money by opening new streams of revenue, farmers have expressed fears that private buyers won鈥檛 adhere to government-set minimum prices.
Several local farmers and members of 91大黄鸭's Punjabi diaspora gathered at Prospera Place in 91大黄鸭 today, protesting what they called anti-farmer bills put in place by the Indian government.
鈥� Michael Rodriguez (@MichaelRdrguez)
Organizers estimated around 300 participated, in a COVID-safe manner.
More to come.
The new bills, protesters said, upend decades of business practices for Indian farmers, putting their livelihoods at risk.
鈥淚f we do not bring attention to what鈥檚 happening in India right now, it鈥檚 going to end in bloodshed,鈥� said protester Amarjit Singh Lalli. 鈥淎ll three [bills] favour corporations 鈥� they will wipe out the small farmers in India.鈥�
In India, the farmers鈥� protests near the country鈥檚 capital city, Delhi, have been met with tear gas and water cannons. This prompted what Indian officials called interference in its affairs by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who said Canada would always support the right of farmers to be heard.
鈥淐anada will always stand up for the right of peaceful protest anywhere around the world. And we鈥檙e pleased to see moves towards de-escalation and dialogue,鈥� Trudeau said Friday when asked about India鈥檚 criticism of his remarks.
READ MORE: Trudeau brushes off India鈥檚 criticism for standing with farmers in anti-Modi protests
The protesters in Canada stated their Indian counterparts 鈥� largely from the state of Punjab 鈥� are not being allowed their right to peaceful protest, and as such, the demonstrations have made their way across the globe.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been more than two months 鈥� the Indian government is not listening to them,鈥� said protest organizer Harpreet Marwaha. 鈥淚f that bill is applied 鈥� I don鈥檛 think they will be able to survive.鈥�
Organizers estimated that roughly 300 people took part in the protest, with all adhering to COVID-19 precautions they had set out.
The 91大黄鸭 protest followed a similar one .
-With files from the Canadian Press
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