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Recognizing that peaceful protests are a hallmark of a prosperous democracy, the US welcomed on Wednesday steps that would improve the effectiveness of India’s markets and attract greater investment from the private sector.
“In general, the United States welcomes steps that would improve the efficiency of India’s markets and attract greater private sector investment,” a State Department spokesman said, noting that the new Biden Administration supports the Indian government’s move to reform the agricultural sector, which attracts private investment and gives farmers greater market access.
In response to a question about the ongoing farmers’ protests in India, the State Department stated that the US encourages dialogue to resolve any differences between the parties.
In the meantime, in support of the farmers’ protests in India, several American lawmakers came out. “I am concerned by the reported actions against peaceful demonstrators protesting new agricultural reform laws in India,” Congresswoman Haley Stevens said,
She encouraged the government of Narendra Modi and representatives of the protesting farmers in a statement to participate in productive discussions.
Another Congresswoman, Ilhan Omar, expressed solidarity throughout India with all the farmers protesting for their livelihood.
She wrote on Twitter, “India must protect their basic democratic rights, allow for the free flow of information, reinstate internet access, and release all the journalists detained for covering the protests,”
Meena Harris, niece of Vice President Kamala Harris, alleged, referring to the farmers’ protests, that the world’s largest democracy is under assault.
Recently, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has stated that India’s new farm laws “potential to represent a significant step forward” for agricultural sector reforms.
We believe that farm bills have the potential to represent a major step forward in India’s agricultural reforms. The measures will allow farmers to contract directly with sellers, allow farmers to retain a higher share of the surplus by reducing the role of intermediaries, improving efficiency and promoting rural growth,” IMF communications director Gerry Rice told reporters last month.”
