The United States on Wednesday while reacting on the ongoing farm protests in India said that ‘peaceful protests are a hallmark of any thriving democracy’, however, India’s new farm laws would “improve the efficiency” of Indian markets. The super-power has not only backed the central government’s move but also extended support to the newly enacted law that it believes, is going to “attract greater private sector investment”.

 

 

The United States on Wednesday (local time) came out in support of India's new farm laws, saying it welcomes steps that would "improve the efficiency" of Indian markets and attract greater private sector investment.

 

While reacting on the ongoing farm protests in India, a State Department spokesperson said that Washington recognizes that "peaceful protests are a hallmark of any thriving democracy", but the differences between the parties must be resolved through dialogue. "We recognize that peaceful protests are a hallmark of any thriving democracy, and note that the Indian Supreme Court has stated the same," the spokesperson said.

 

In general, the United States welcomes steps that would improve the efficiency of India's markets and attract greater private sector investment, the spokesperson added, "we encourage that any differences between the parties be resolved through dialogue”.

 

From over two months now, the farmers have been protesting on the borders of Delhi against the three newly enacted farm laws, the Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020; the Farmers Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and farm Services Act 2020 and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020 respectively.

 

The protests that took off from November 26 went on to take an ugly turn on January 26, the Republic Day, when violence broke out during the farmer tractor rally and some miscreants also got hand in hand with Delhi Police. The protestors broke barricades to enter Delhi and indulged in vandalism across several parts of the national capital.

 

The government has meanwhile, proposed to suspend the new legislations for one-and-a-half years with protesting farmers, during the 11th round of talks on Jan 26 and also proposed to set up a joint committee to discuss the Acts, the protests are still going strong on the streets of National Capital.