For the past three months, many farmers from Punjab, Haryana and Western Uttar Pradesh, have been camping at several border points of Delhi, including Tirki, Singhu and Ghazipur, since November 28 of last year, demanding a reform of the three new farm laws and a legal guarantee on the minimum support price (MSP) for their crops. 

Their protests have not yet attained enough attention from the Indian government, as the government has not yet reduced the farmer’s bills. 

It is assumed the Indian government believes the farmer protest will fail. Many people suspect it is a direct attack on the citizens. People both young and old have been imprisoned for their alliance with the movement.

In addition to this, the Indian government has publicly demanded Twitter to ban anyone who supports the farmers. In reaction, the social media platform refused, claiming it would be against their guidelines to restrict users’ freedom of speech. 

On November 26, Godi Media, a national news service in India reported on the protesting farmers. When the journalists arrived at the Singhu border between Delhi and Haryana, they were perplexed as to why mainstream media had not gotten ahold of the conditions in the country. After four days, they articulated the slogan, “Godi Media, go back.”  

Godi Media, part of the Narendra Modi government, has refrained from conversation about the farmers and their slogans. This anger eventually gained a life of its own when the reporters arrived at Singhu on November 30 to report live on the protest. 

At 1:30 p.m., reporter Vasu Manchanda stood near a stage erected to serve langar, or a communal meal. He began interviewing some elderly farmers and was promptly shouted down minutes later and chased with police barricades by the protesters. 

According to the Press Trust of India, the Human Rights Watch said, “The Indian authorities’ response to protests has focused on discrediting peaceful protesters, harassing critics of the government, and prosecuting those reporting on the events.” In other words, The Indian Government is portraying the farmers as inhumane and delegitimate in their actions. They also wish to withdraw public attention from the movement on social media.  

The same article stated, “Farmer leaders have made it clear that they would not settle for anything less than a repeal of the new agriculture laws.” Therefore, they will continue to protest until there is a full repeal. 

The Indian Farmers’ Protests just recently made its 100-day anniversary.  According to the Associated Press of CBC, Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, says the laws are necessary to modernize agriculture even though farmers claim that they will be left poorer and at the mercy of big corporations.

In addition, Farmers also fear that the legislation signals from the government are moving to a system where an overwhelming majority of farmers sell only to government sanctioned marketplaces. They worry this will leave them at the mercy of corporations and will have no legal obligation to pay them the guaranteed price anymore. 

To raise awareness for the movement on social media, post with the hashtags #Nofarmersnofood #Isupportfarmers.