Canadian politicians have expressed support for farmers in India, who are protesting three new farm laws recently enacted there.
India said it plans to register a formal complaint against comments by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in support of Indian farmers, warning “such actions will have seriously damaging impact on ties.”
Meanwhile, protesters rallied across the country recently, including in Surrey, B.C., and Brampton, Ont., Nov. 29, with some Canadian politicians offering support.
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Jack Harris, an MP from Newfoundland and Labrador, tweeted, “we are shocked to see the Indian government’s suppression of farmers protesting new laws which will endanger their livelihood. Instead of using water cannons and tear gas, the Indian government needs to engage in open dialogue with farmers.”
In Ontario, MLA Gurratan Singh raised the issue, calling farmers the backbone of society in a speech to the provincial legislature.
“They feed cities, and right now they are under attack in India. Folks in my riding are concerned about new laws that are passed by the Indian government that are going to hurt the farmers in Punjab, Haryana and others across India.”
He asked all Ontario MLAs to support the Indian farmer protest.
In the Manitoba legislature, MLA and NDP agriculture critic Diljeet Brar raised the issue in October.
“No government should force any legislation upon its people,” said Brar.
On Twitter, federal NDP leader Jagmeet Singh, federal innovation, science and industry minister Navdeep Bains, several other MPs and Ontario NDP opposition leader Andrea Horwath expressed support for the protesters.
The protests were sparked after the Indian government introduced three laws that protesters argue will give large food retailers too much control over the agriculture industry.
