Protesters show support for Indian farmers

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This article was published 07/12/2020 (1942 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Hundreds of vehicles streamed down the Perimeter Highway on Sunday morning to rally in support of Indian farmers protesting new agricultural laws passed by the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The rally was organized by members of Winnipeg’s Indian diaspora. Thousands of people across the globe have recently organized peaceful rallies to show their solidarity with Indian farmers.

Tensions are rising in the country after farmers in India’s Punjab region have been protesting laws passed by the government in September that they say put their livelihoods at risk.

Jasmine Brar, the daughter of an Indian farmer, and a former Conservative candidate for MLA in Burrows in the past provincial election, was among the rally attenders on Sunday.

“The Indian government recently passed agricultural reform laws which farmers in Punjab and other states do not agree with… They have been peacefully protesting for the past two to three months and their voice was not heard,” Brar said.

“They were met with water cannons and other machinery of the state to stop them from peacefully protesting. We’re out to show them the support in their fundamental rights of democracy.”

Organizers asked people to show up in vehicles near the Sikh Society of Manitoba on Mollard Road at 10 a.m.

Vehicles sat in bumper-to-bumper traffic early in the morning due to an overwhelming turnout in support of the cause. In every direction, as far as the eye could see, vehicles were at a standstill.

Black, orange, green and blue flags hung from vehicles, and others were clad with signs expressing support for Indian farmers. After meeting at the rally point, the vehicles drove down the Perimeter Highway, where they protested in a convoy.

A Winnipeg Police Service cruiser car was seen parked on the shoulder of Pipeline Road, monitoring the scene. A WPS spokesman said the service was in attendance in a support role.

Brar said that organizers gave clear and consistent messaging that anyone who attended must abide by public health orders. Everyone was encouraged to stay in their vehicles and wear a mask, she said.

“We have guidelines set by the provincial government and by health authorities and I think we have to follow those guidelines. As far as I’m aware, everybody did follow the guidelines. I was in a car with my husband and our dog came with us,” Brar said.

“We did not break any rules. I think most of the people did follow the rules. My message is to please follow the guidelines.”

A video of the protest published by City News Winnipeg showed a small handful of people, some holding placards, walking together along the side of the road. The man at the front of the group was unmasked.

Under the current restrictions in place in Manitoba — which will be in force until at least Dec. 11 — gatherings of more than five people are not allowed.

When reached for comment Sunday, a provincial spokeswoman could not say whether public health officials engaged in any enforcement activity in response to the rally.

An update on COVID-19 enforcement efforts in Manitoba will be provided Tuesday, the provincial spokeswoman said.

“For me, the support was not just directly to Indian farmers. We’re supporting the farmers all around the globe,” Brar said.

“If we don’t have farmers, we will not have food on our dinner tables at the end of the day.”

ryan.thorpe@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @rk_thorpe