The 2020 Indian farmers' protest is an ongoing protest against the three farm acts which were passed by the Parliament of India in September 2020. The acts have been described as "anti-farmer laws" by many farmer unions,[3][4] and politicians from the opposition also say it would leave farmers at the "mercy of corporates".[5][6] The government, however, maintains that they will make it effortless
for farmers to sell their produce directly to big buyers, and stated that the protests are based on misinformation.[7][8][9]
Soon after the acts were introduced, unions began holding local protests, mostly in Punjab. After two months of protests, farmer unions—notably from Punjab, Rajasthan and Haryana—began a movement named Dilhi Chalo (transl. The Indian government ordered the police and law enforcement of various states to attack the farmer unions using water cannons, batons, and tear gas to prevent the farmer unions from entering into Haryana first and then Delhi. On 26 November a nationwide general strike that involved approximately 250 million people took place in support of the farmer unions.[10] On 30 November, India Today estimated that between 200,000 and 300,000 farmers were converging at various border points on the way to Delhi.[11]
Over 50 farmer unions have been protesting, whereas the Indian Government claims some unions have come out in support of the farm laws.[12][13] Transport unions representing over 14 million trucker drivers have come out in support of the farmer unions, threatening to halt movement of supplies in certain states.[14] After the government did not accept the farmer unions' demands during talks on 4 December, the farmer unions planned to escalate the action to another India-wide strike on 8 December 2020. The government offered some amendments in laws, but unions are asking to repeal the laws.[15] From 12 December, farmer unions took over highway toll plazas in Haryana and allowed free movement of vehicles.[16] By mid December, the Supreme Court of India had received a batch of petitions related to removing blockades created by protesters around Delhi. The court also intends to take forward the negotiations with the various bodies of protesting farmer unions.[17][18] The court also asked the government to put the laws on hold, which they refused.[19] On 4 January 2021 the court registered the first plea filed in favour of the protesting farmers.[20]
On 30 December, the Indian Government agreed on two of the farmers' demands; excluding farmers from new pollution law and dropping amendments of new Electricity Ordinance and rest of the demands will be discussed by both sides on 4 January.[21] Uptill 4 January 2021, seven rounds of talks have taken place between the centre and farmers (represented by the farm unions).[22]
