P. Sarojini
Washington, USA (CWBN)_ In solidarity of Indian farmers who have been protesting against recent agricultural reforms in India, hundreds of Sikh-Americans have organized nonviolent protest rallies in many cities across the US.
On Saturday, a large caravan of protestors from different areas of California disrupted traffic on the Bay Bridge as they marched to the Indian Consulate in San Francisco, and hundreds of protestors also assembled in downtown Indianapolis. At both places, the protesters who supported the farmers demanded the repeal of the new agricultural laws, saying that these laws would drive Indian farmers into poverty and offer a monopoly to the private sectors. Thousands of farmers are protesting on various borders of Delhi since November 26, seeking repeal of three farm laws enacted in September.
The Indiana-based Republican leader Gurinder Singh Khalsa spoke about the greatness of farmers and said, “Farmers are the soul of any nation. We must protect our soul. People around the world, including many cities in the US and Canada, have come together to dispose of the bills that will open India’s agricultural market to the private sector; allowing major corporations to take over independent farming communities and dilute crops’ market value”. Khalsa was one of the main organizers and participants of the rally in downtown Indianapolis which was attended by nearly 500 Sikh Americans from different parts of Indiana.
There was a meeting of Sikh-Americans in Chicago the previous day, and another protest rally also took place in front of the Indian Embassy in Washington DC. On Sunday, another rally took place. The protesters at the rallies carried posters which read, “No Farmers, No Food” and “Save the farmers”.
Amandeep Singh Hundal in Indiana said, “This is a peaceful protest and should serve as a loud and clear message to the Indian government. We must support our farmers”. Darshan Singh Darar, another Sikh leader said, “This is not a request to Indian government, rather a demand to take all three bills back”.
Naindeep Singh, executive director of the Jakara Movement, expressed his dissatisfaction over the new farm laws. He said, “These issues are deeply intertwined, and we will raise our voices to ensure that the families from Punjab who are putting their lives on the line to protest in Delhi can do so without facing threats from the Indian government”. He added, “Without farmers, there is no food. Without farming, there is no livelihood for the millions of people in Punjab who have relied on farming as a source of income for generations”.
The organizers of the protest said that caravan rally that took place in the Bay Area on Sunday – along with related recent demonstrations in New York, Houston, Michigan, Chicago, and Washington, DC – was planned as a display of unity, as Sikhs around the globe are demanding the farm bills to be opposed.
