By Kaveesha Fernando
NEW DELHI, India (CWBN)_ In the latest development with regards to the farmers protest in India, Indian Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Raosaheb Danve stated that he felt that China and Pakistan are the driving force behind the farmers protest in India.
The minister sparked controversy when he stated his belief that China and Pakistan first began their attempts at unrest by inciting Muslims in India and then moved on to Indian farmers. Referring to the alleged attempts of India and China to incite Muslims, the minister said: “those efforts didn’t succeed and now farmers are being told that they will face losses. This is the conspiracy of other countries”.
Indian media reports that Danve also stated that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the prime minister of farmers and that none of his decisions would be against farmers.
Indian farmers have engaged in weeks of protest against new farm laws which they feel leave them at a disadvantage. The move strips away some of the protections which they were afforded in the past, such as government regulation of produce prices, without which they fear that they will be at the mercy of the private sector, who might try and drive down prices.
The protests have gained support both domestically and internationally, the latter in large part due to the participation of the Indian diaspora (who even protested in London earlier this week). International leaders have also weighed in on the unrest; Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is among a growing list of leaders who have expressed concern over the protests. The protestors have caused widespread economic and logistical fallout in India, barring access to everything from businesses to transport facilities across the nation.
