Hundreds of people took to the streets and protested outside the Indian Consulate General in New York to express their support for the demonstrating farmers in India on Tuesday.
Images from the protest site show people, mostly Sikhs, raising their voices and holding placards that read, "We support farmers".
#किसान_एकता_जिंदाबाद. In Newyork front of indian embassy protest by local people in support of farmers #Tractor2Twitter @HansraGurpreet #kisanandolan pic.twitter.com/waKHTOaBBh
— PUNJAB KISAN UNION (@PunjabKisanUnio) December 2, 2020
Protest outside of Indian Embassy New York.#FarmerProtest pic.twitter.com/pJ1stG1riT
— Inderjeet Singh (@Inderjeets9) December 2, 2020
While car rallies were also held across New York City.
ਅੱਜ ਨਿਊ ਯਾਰਕ ਸਿਟੀ ਵਿੱਚ ਕਿਸਾਨਾਂ ਦੀ ਹਮਾਇਤ ਵਿਚ ਰੈਲੀ ਕੱਢੀ ਗਈ।
— Adv. Manpreet Bhullar (@AdvManpreetBhu1) December 2, 2020
Rally in New York City today to show solidarity with Farmers protests in India #standwithfarmerschallenge #FarmerProtest #tractor2twitter #bycottadaniambani pic.twitter.com/ZSdn9xMM0c
Over the last six days, thousands of farmers have blocked the entrance points leading to the Indian capital after failing to reach a consensus on new farm laws with the central government despite several clarifications from politicians.
The farmers are protesting against the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020, Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, and The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act 2020.
The laws allow farmers to sell their produce at places apart from the designated APMC market. They also aim at allowing contract farming under which they can enter into supply agreements with private firms for remunerative and pre-decided prices.
However, the farmers believe the new farm laws would pave the way for the dismantling of the Minimum Support Price (MSP) system, leaving them at the mercy of big corporations.
