RITU JHA-
A resolution has been submitted to the California Democratic Party, on Jan. 1, in solidarity with Indian farmers and condemning the three Farms Bill, which has led to the ongoing months-long peaceful protest in India’s capital New Delhi.
The reason for the protest is the farmers say that this legislature will destroy the agricultural economy, impoverish their livelihood, and put at risk the way of life enjoyed by over half of India’s workforce.
The three farm bills have gained international attention since it was passed September 20, and in the past one month, several protests, letters and resolution at the city level has been passed in the US in support of the farmers.
The resolution submitted to the California Democratic Party on January 1 by Amar Singh Shergill, CDP Progressive Caucus, Chair and Ajaib Singh Gill, CDP Delegate, AD 34, along with several dozen democratic delegates, have urged the California Democratic Party to condemn the violence committed by the Indian government in suppressing the rights of peaceful protests.
This resolution aims to give a voice to these protestors, farmers, and their families who have been directly affected by the economic and human rights exploitation.
The delegates have asked the California Democratic Party to call on the Indian government to repeal the three laws (Farmers Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020; Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce Act, 2020; Essential Commodities Act, 2020) that are the subject of protest and begin any reform process anew through consultation with farmers.
According to the delegates the resolution has also been submitted to Sacramento County Democratic Central Committee and one being soon submitted to Kern County Democratic Central Committee.
When indica News asked Shergill, when they expect the hearing on the resolution, she said, “We are waiting on a hearing date in the state party but it may be heard in Sacramento County and Kern County Party meetings later this month as we build consensus towards a statewide resolution.”
“The Party resolution process is used to build a consensus that is a statement of values by the California Democratic Party and is helpful as an advocacy tool to influence Congressman, Senators and Democratic administrations,” Shergill said on why the resolution is important.
According to media reports over 250,000 farmers who were protesting on the national highways entering the Indian capital of New Delhi, during “Delhi Chalo” were forcibly stopped from advancing, and have been alleged of beaten up by law enforcement and using water cannon and
tear gas.
Here in the US in solidarity with millions of farmers and workers nationwide, protesting and striking in opposition to three laws forced on farmers, various Sikh groups protested at the Indian consulates and
Indian Embassy.
The resolution also states that the United States spends billions of dollars every year on Indian agricultural products, and American direct investment by companies like Facebook, is incentivizing the destruction of small family farms and oppression of laborers, many of whom are from the Dalit community and are already subject to deeply embedded casteism.
Gill another signatory told indica News on submitting the resolution said, “Many of us have family back home who are farmers. Our families were farmers. It’s an issue close to our heart, evidenced by the outpouring of support from the NRI community for the farmers back home.”
“It’s not a Hindu, Sikh, or Muslim issue. It’s a farmer issue. Farmers from all over India are united in their opposition to these bills. They see the writing on the wall–these bills will spell the end of their way of life,” Gill said and added confidently, “Our fellow delegates in the CDP are supportive and we have confidence these resolutions will be adopted in the near future.”
So do believe Riddhi S. Patel, a delegate candidate AD34.
On endorsing the resolution, Patel told indica News, “I believe wholeheartedly in the quote from Martin Luther King Jr. when he said ‘Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.’ The racist national rhetoric spewed by the Modi government proves just how important internationalism is, especially with the most recent deregulation of the agriculture sector. My county is no stranger to how powerful labor movements are, and I applaud the millions of farmers in India for standing up for what’s right.”
