Members of the Okanagan Valley香蕉视频直播檚 Punjabi community gathered at Prospera Place in Kelowna Sunday afternoon (Dec. 6) in support of Indian farmers.
The demonstration took to the road, with a kilometres-long line of sign-donning, honking vehicles taking over the centre lane of Highway 97 as they made their way to Prospera Place. The protest 香蕉视频直播� comprised of several local farmers of Indian heritage 香蕉视频直播� is one of many that have taken place across Canada in recent weeks against several new agricultural laws imposed in September by the Indian government.
Those laws, in part, allow farmers to sell products directly to private buyers, rather than middlemen adhering to the state-controlled minimum support price (MSP), which since 2009 has safeguarded farmers香蕉视频直播� profits. While Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has stated the laws will allow farmers to earn more money by opening new streams of revenue, farmers have expressed fears that private buyers won香蕉视频直播檛 adhere to government-set minimum prices.
Several local farmers and members of Kelowna's Punjabi diaspora gathered at Prospera Place in Kelowna today, protesting what they called anti-farmer bills put in place by the Indian government.
香蕉视频直播� Michael Rodriguez (@MichaelRdrguez)
Organizers estimated around 300 participated, in a COVID-safe manner.
More to come.
The new bills, protesters said, upend decades of business practices for Indian farmers, putting their livelihoods at risk.
香蕉视频直播淚f we do not bring attention to what香蕉视频直播檚 happening in India right now, it香蕉视频直播檚 going to end in bloodshed,香蕉视频直播� said protester Amarjit Singh Lalli. 香蕉视频直播淎ll three [bills] favour corporations 香蕉视频直播� they will wipe out the small farmers in India.香蕉视频直播�
In India, the farmers香蕉视频直播� protests near the country香蕉视频直播檚 capital city, Delhi, have been met with tear gas and water cannons. This prompted what Indian officials called interference in its affairs by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who said Canada would always support the right of farmers to be heard.
香蕉视频直播淐anada will always stand up for the right of peaceful protest anywhere around the world. And we香蕉视频直播檙e pleased to see moves towards de-escalation and dialogue,香蕉视频直播� Trudeau said Friday when asked about India香蕉视频直播檚 criticism of his remarks.
READ MORE: Trudeau brushes off India香蕉视频直播檚 criticism for standing with farmers in anti-Modi protests
The protesters in Canada stated their Indian counterparts 香蕉视频直播� largely from the state of Punjab 香蕉视频直播� are not being allowed their right to peaceful protest, and as such, the demonstrations have made their way across the globe.
香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 been more than two months 香蕉视频直播� the Indian government is not listening to them,香蕉视频直播� said protest organizer Harpreet Marwaha. 香蕉视频直播淚f that bill is applied 香蕉视频直播� I don香蕉视频直播檛 think they will be able to survive.香蕉视频直播�
Organizers estimated that roughly 300 people took part in the protest, with all adhering to COVID-19 precautions they had set out.
The Kelowna protest followed a similar one .
-With files from the Canadian Press
Do you have something to add to this story, or something else we should report on? Email: michael.rodriguez@kelownacapnews.com
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