Farmers’ Protests Spark Concern for India’s Upcoming Elections

Written by Lexi Dean | March 14 2024

/// Indian farmers ///

Around two-thirds of the Indian population depend on farming for their livelihood, making India’s agricultural workers a vital group that may influence elections and policies. The Indian government is the biggest customer for farmers due to policies in place where the government provides free food grains to 800 million of 1.4 billion people. Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) observed farmers’ protests three years ago which forced the government to repeal a set of reforms made to deregulate the agricultural market. The agricultural workers opposed these reforms in fear of losing price guarantee benefits and reducing prices which allows bigger competitors to take over markets. Farmers resumed protests last month which may result in serious implications for the coming election in May.

The rebirth of protests forces the government to be aware of the severity of antagonizing a fundamental group and voting bloc. Starting in Punjab and Haryana, farmers marched to the capital, Delhi, to demand higher guaranteed pricing for produce, higher minimum wages, pensions, and debt relief. They also protested for doubling the number of work days under the rural employment guarantee scheme and urged the government to withdraw from the World Trade Organization (WTO). Amidst these demands, the government refused to meet higher guaranteed prices, blocked media accounts and internet access in Punjab and Haryana, and began to heavily barricade Delhi. Protests stopped after a young farmer was killed in a clash with the police at the end of February. There are plans for another protest in Delhi at the end of this month. After the response and result of the February marches, the government must decide how to address these demands with an important election nearing.