Condemn Human Rights Violations & Support The Farmers

We, the Indian-American community of Michigan, strongly condemn the human rights violations by the Indian government and stand with the millions of peaceful protestors from all across India to protest the three new anti-farmer laws recently passed.

The Indian government’s move to overhaul agriculture reforms with three bills: The Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020; The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020 and The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill, 2020 have sparked the largest protest in the history of the modern world. Peaceful demonstrations against these new laws are on-going throughout the world, both in and outside of India. The laws effects farmers all across India, irrespective of home state, religion or commodity. Any attempts to label this protest as anti-national, separatist or anti-secular are without merit and part of intentional misinformation campaigns.

These bills which did not follow Parliamentary procedure, were rushed through, despite major opposition. The bills take away protections for farmers, including the rights to minimum support prices and the rights to fight contract disputes with large corporations in the court of law. These new measures are unjust, anti-farmer and pro-corporation.

The fundamental pillar to any democracy is the right to peacefully assemble. Following the passage of the new farming legislation, millions of farmers from all parts of India peacefully expressed their opposition to the laws. Unfortunately, Indian law enforcement officers responded with brutality, including but not limited to water cannons, tear gas, baton attacks, barricades, and more. Human rights violations are never acceptable.