Un-invited SFJ supporters try to overshadow protest held in London to support farmers

London: Indian diaspora residing in the UK came on streets to support the farmers protest staging outside the against the newly passed farm laws that are being referred to as "black laws" by the agriculture community in India. Thousands of people went on roads to stand in solidarity with Indian farmers.

People gathered in large numbers outside the office of Indian High-Commissioner in London on Sunday. Demonstrators chanted "anti-Modi" slogans and condemned the Indian government for only supporting the corporate sectors and ignoring the difficulties that would be endured by farmers as a result of these three recently passed laws that the government claims are in favour of the farmers.

The demonstrations are no longer limited to India; they are now being undertaken in countries like the UK, USA, Canada, Australia and Newzealand. Indian diaspora is fully engaging in the rallies.

Thousands of people went on the streets of London, UK while hundreds of others were in their vehicles taking out a motor-cade rally. This has been the first time that people gathered in numbers since the UK lifted lockdowns on December 6, 2020. It is noteworthy to mention that London was choked with traffic of motorcade supporting Indian farmers.

Besides this, farmers' supporter, a twelve-year-old Sikh boy, was pushed away by cops during the demonstrations. People condemned the police for not letting them protest peacefully against the Indian government outside the High Commissioner's office in London, UK.

Some people have been striving to get benefitted from these demonstrations and endeavouring to overshadow the hard work of the farmers who have been fighting for their rights even in tough-winter situations.

Some un-invited individuals tried to overshadow the London protest by waving flags and chanting slogans of "Khalistan". The Khalistan movement is a Sikh separatist campaign attempting to create a home for Sikhs by building a sovereign nation, pronounced Khālistān ('Land of the Khalsa'), in the Punjab province".

The Khalistan flag wavers were the un-invited supporters of SFG( Sikhs for Justice Group)- Which is a US-based secessionist group that advocates the withdrawal of Punjab from India as Khalistan. It is created and primarily managed by a lawyer Gurpatwant Singh Pannu.

While the farming protest is not linked to any political party or any separatist group- the Indian media have been attempting to create connections. Farmer Leader says it is the Indian government's agenda to expand the Khalistan narrative with the sole aim of destroying the protest and people should remain alert.

Sukhdev Singh, 54 stated that "States had different rules & regulations to buy food grains from farmers. It was difficult for corporates to handle so many states with so many different regulations & taxes. While Modi's Solution was to take control from states and made 1 act for whole country. Corporates happy now."

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Balbir Singh at the demonstrations stated that "It was hard to determine that what type of crop will be grown by farmers. Now, the Modi government introduced. Contract farming for farmers where corporates would tell them to grow what kind of crop. They will be enslaved on their own fields."

Another protestor, Jag Sandhu 39, stated that "Earlier Corporates will buy crops and store them. But Essential Commodity act used to prohibit them for storing crops for a long time, as it increases prices in the market however the abolishment of the same states that food crops will not come under essential Commodity act and can be stored for a longer period which would only make the corporates happy.

Jag Sandhu added that the new laws also state that in case anything goes wrong farmers can not go to courts; instead, they are asked to go the Sub Divisional Magistrate and Deputy Commissioner.

People, including the elderly, and the children are sleeping on the streets for their rights in India.

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Farmers in India are protesting since August 2020 however the demonstrations raised International concerns since the agriculture community tried to move to Indian capital Delhi for a peaceful protest and the government attempted to stop them by using tear gases and water cannons. The government also directed the authorities to dig around 20 feet holes on the national highways in an attempt to stop the farmers from moving to Delhi to do a peaceful protest.

The farmer's protest has now entered its 11th day, and people continue to oppose the "three black laws" that would endanger the rights of people to their own agriculture fields.

WIC News reporters from Delhi, India stated that these demonstrations are like never seen before as people have gathered from all states of India to support the farming community. "People are basically living on the roads, food is being distributed for free, many people donated dry-fruits for the protestors, and it is a view like never seen before. The pressure on India government is increasing" added WIC News correspondent from Delhi, India.

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