Canadian civil groups out in support of Indian farmers

Sukhmeet Bhasin

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, March 2

More than 100 labour, community and civil society organisations in Canada and other countries have issued joint statement in solidarity with farmers of India.

The organisations include Canadian Labour Congress, Alberta Federation of Labour, British Columbia Federation of Labour, British Columbia Teachers’ Federation, Canadian Union of Public Employees, Canadian Union of Postal Workers, Manitoba Federation of Labour, National Union of Public and General Employees and many more.

In the statement, they have stated that the farmers’ agitation for the repeal of the agricultural laws has become the largest and longest sustained non-violent movement in the Indian history, surpassing Mahatma Gandhi’s historic Dandi March against the abhorrent salt law of the British colonial regime.

These laws were drafted without any consultation with farmers or their representatives, the farmers’ unions. The farmers have consistently opposed these laws, which go against the promises and commitments made to farmers by different governments over several decades, the statement read.

For several months hundreds of thousands of farmers protesting peacefully on the borders of the national capital have faced and withstood repressive policing including water cannons, tear gas and barricades in the near freezing conditions of a Delhi winter. At least 220 farmers have died as a result of the harsh conditions, a few unfortunately by their own hands as despair overcame them.

“We salute the heroism of farmers and pay homage to the departed souls. We demand that the Government of India stop vilifying the movement and criminalising the democratic rights of defenders who are part of the widespread support for it from diverse sections,” the statement added.