A protestor stands up from the moonroof of a vehicle with a sign that says "Farmers Lives Matter." (Jeff D'Andrea/paNOW Staff)

By Jeff D'Andrea

In support of farmers

Protest in Prince Albert against Indian government farm laws

Dec 6, 2020 | 5:00 PM

Protestors across Canada have shown their support for Indian farmers. At the Cornerstone Shopping Centre In Prince Albert on Sunday, about 30 protestors travelled from across the province to gather and show they stand in solidarity with the farmers in India.

For the past 10 days, tens of thousands of protestors have marched to India’s capital of New Delhi, and blocked some of the country’s major highways to oppose the government’s new farm laws.

India Prime Minister Nerandra Modi’s government passed laws in September for farmers to market their grain directly to private companies. But farmers are worried the laws will stop the government from buying grain at minimum guaranteed prices, and result in corporations pushing down the prices.

“Suppose tomorrow, the government announced that there will be no minimum wage and an employer decides to pay you $2. That’s what’s happening in India with farmers,” protestor Navinder Breet Singh told paNOW.

In the Walmart parking lot, two semi-trailer trucks and all the protestor’s cars had signs taped to them. Protestors gathered in a large circle, and joined together for several chants including “shame on Modi,” “we support farmers” and “jai jawan, jai kisan,” a longtime popular slogan in India which translates to “hail the soldier, hail the farmer” in English.

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Gurdeep Singh said they wanted to gather to create awareness for the issue in Prince Albert and to show their support for farmers back in India.

“We’ve been protesting very peacefully for the last three months, but there were no actions taken by the [Indian] government,” Gurdeep said. “So, what happened was in India, all the farmers are on the streets now. Well, as a matter of fact, it is one of the largest protests in human history, so far.”

For Sunny Singh, he believes farmers should be treated with more respect than they are in India.

“We’re feeding the whole country, like the farmers in any country. Farmers are like the heart of any country. You mess around with them, well buddy, that’s not gonna be good,” Singh said.

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Jeff.dandrea@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @jeff_paNOW