An assemblage of seven US legislators, including Indian-American Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, have written to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo requesting him to address the matter of farmer's protest in India with his Indian counterpart. India has termed the remarks by foreign leaders and politicians on farmers agitation as "ill-informed" and "unwarranted", asserting that the matter pertains to the internal affairs of a democratic country.
Earlier this month, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said, "We have seen some ill-informed comments...relating to farmers in India. Such comments are unwarranted, especially when about the internal affairs of a democratic country.”
This issue in particular concerns the Sikh Americans community connected to Punjab, although it also heavily affects the Indian Americans belonging to other Indian states, the lawmakers said in their letter to Pompeo dated December 23.
"Many Indian Americans are directly affected as they have family members and ancestral land in Punjab and are concerned about the well-being of their families in India. Given this serious situation, we urge you to contact your Indian counterpart to reinforce the United States'' commitment to the freedom of political speech abroad," the US lawmakers said.
The lawmakers in their letter said that as a nation that is familiar with political protests and has seen many such agitations in its history, thus, can offer guidance to India during their current period of social disturbance.
The legislators said, "As national legislators, we respect the right of the government of India to determine national policy, in compliance with existing law. We also acknowledge the rights of those in India and abroad who are currently protesting peacefully against agricultural laws that many Indian farmers see as an attack on their economic security.”
In addition to Jayapal, the letter has been signed by Congressmen Donald Norcross, Brendan F Boyle, Brian Fitzpatrick, Mary Gay Scanlon, Debbie Dingell and David Trone.
Over the past few weeks, more than a dozen US Congressmen have expressed their worry about the ongoing protest by the farmers in India. Earlier this month, Congressman John Garamendi, Co-Chair of the American Sikh Caucus, along with Congressman Jim Costa and Congresswoman Shelia Jackson Lee -members of the American Sikh Caucus- sent a letter to Indian Ambassador to the US Taranjit Singh Sandhu, expressing solidarity with the protestors and defending their right to peaceful protest.
Democratic American lawmaker David Trone on Tuesday asked the Indian government to give safety to the protesting farmers and praised the Centre’s proposals of discussion with the farmers’ unions and India's Supreme Court suggestion to establish a mediation.
Also Read: UP Kisan Sena warns govt of bigger protest if farm laws repealed
Thousands of farmers from Punjab, Haryana and UP have been protesting at the borders of Delhi since late November demanding to scrap the three farm laws. Calling these laws as "anti-farmer", these farmers believe that the newly enacted bills would dismantle the minimum support price system, leaving them at the "mercy" of big corporations.
However, the Centre maintains its stance that the new laws will bring farmers better opportunities and usher in new technologies in agriculture. There have been multiple rounds of talks between representatives of the protestors and the Indian government but the deadlock continues.