More than 5,000 farmers gathered in the heart of the capital to demonstrate against Modi and his government, even though the government had already given to some of the farmers’ demands and the year-long protest had ended.
According to a statement released by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha, the farmers’ organization that organized Monday’s protest, farmers are demanding that the government guarantee a minimum support price for all produce and remove all farmer loans.
When asked for comment, a representative from the federal agriculture ministry did not provide one.
Banner-bearing and flag-waving protesters chanted anti-Modi slogans as they made their way to the venue.
During his election campaign in November, Modi promised to repeal three farm regulations that farmers claimed would open them up to corporate exploitation in the name of deregulation.
Minimum support prices (MSP) are guaranteed rates for all farm produce, and the federal government has committed to establish a council of producers and government officials to develop methods to ensure these rates.
The federal government established the panel and invited agricultural group members to participate in it last month.
Police presence was increased in and around the protest area, while security was strengthened around the outskirts of the national capital.
