The Indian Diaspora in London staged a massive demonstration on Sunday when thousands of people came out to show solidarity for the Indian farmers. India is currently rocked with huge protests in the national capital ‘Delhi’. Tens of Thousands of Farmers have clogged the capital borders in protest over the new agricultural reforms introduced in September this year.
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Massive Demonstrations by Indian Diaspora in Central London on Sunday; 13 Arrested
The farmers are garnering huge support from overseas, where people of Indian origin and those whose families root back to the farmers are staging demonstrations in different parts of the world. Such was evident on Sunday, in Central London, where people converged in front of the Indian Embassy, in Aldwych, situated in the center of the Britain capital.
People in groups, especially British Sikhs, carried placards displaying their support for the farmers and marched around Trafalgar Square. COVID restrictions went for a toss as the British Police found it difficult to manage the huge crowds who were violating all COVID norms. Very few demonstrators were wearing masks, and there was no social distancing as groups were sloganeering ‘Justice for Farmer’ and ‘India stop selling off your farmers’. The Police reportedly arrested 13 people for breach of regulations.
A number of teenagers were caught with fireworks as they were trying to set them off towards the crowds. The Police seized the fireworks from them and rushed to disperse the crowd to avoid traffic disruption in the heart of London.
The Indian High Commission Spokesperson has blamed the anti-Indian separatists for leading these protests in London. He reported to PTI that separatists had influenced the Indian community to serve its purpose of anti-India agenda. He also stated that the anti-farmers bill protests were an internal democratic process and its work in progress between the government and the protesting farmers.
Indian Diaspora Solidarity Protests in US, Australia, Canada for Indian Farmers
These demonstrations of Indian Diaspora did not happen in London alone. The Farmers protest led to solidarity rallies throughout the globe, including the US, UK, Canada, and Australia. In the US, a ‘Kisan (farmer) solidarity rally’ was carried out where protestors rallied in their vehicles from Oakland to the Indian Consulate in San Francisco. There was also news of protests in Chicago and the Indian Embassy in Washington D.C., carried out especially by Sikh-Americans.
Melbourne Australia. Image: Twitter
In Canada, the Indian Consulate in Downtown Toronto was flooded with hundreds of protestors. While people gathered and stood on sidewalks for peaceful protests, a convoy of vehicles and car rallies were seen supporting the farmers of India. Melbourne in Australia also saw similar rallies on Sunday, and the farmers’ support protests have been going on in Sydney, Brisbane, and Melbourne for a week now.
Why have Indian Farmers erupted to fight the government?
Indian Government brought in three major Agricultural reforms in legislation in September which claim to boost the farmers’ outreach, however, the farmers have called the legislation ‘anti-farmer’. The farmers believe that the new laws will deprive them of their minimum support price given by the government and may leave them to the mercy of the private players and big corporates. The new laws, as the farmers say, will dismantle the existing regulated markets in the nation. Therefore, the farmers have aggressively urged the government to revert the 3 bills immediately. The farmers launched the ‘Dilli Chalo’ protests in November and have been surrounding the capital in and out for 11 days now.
The farmers went through a rough ordeal initially as they encountered clashes with the Indian Police while trying to enter Delhi. They are currently settling in camps and grounds across the capital, in the chilling cold, and are determined to continue the protests. More farmers from far-flung areas are joining the protests. The farmers have also called for a ‘Bharat Bandh’ on December 8, which may involve ceasing all traffic movement on Tuesday.
