Allow peaceful protest by farmers, internet access: US Congress's India panel

The leadership of the powerful Congressional India Caucus has urged the Indian government to ensure that the norms of democracy are maintained and the protesters are allowed to demonstrate peacefully and have access to the Internet as it discussed the issue of the ongoing farmers agitation in the countryCongressman Brad Sherman CoChair of the Congressional India Caucus said that he convened a meeting with his other Republican CoChair Congressman Steve Chabot and ViceChair Congressman Ro Khanna to speak with Indias Ambassador to the US Taranjit Singh Sandhu regarding farmers demonstrations in IndiaThis was the first meeting of the India Caucus the largest countryspecific caucus in the US House of Representatives on the issueI urged the Indian government to make sure that the norms of democracy are maintained and that protesters are allowed to protest peaceably and to have access to the Internet and to journalists All friends of India hope that the parties can reach an agreement Sherman saidThousands of farmers mostly from Punjab Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh have been camping at three Delhi border points Singhu Tikri and Ghazipur for over 70 days demanding a complete repeal of three central farm lawsMultiple rounds of talks between the Government and the farmer unions have remained deadlockedThe Samyukt Kisan Morcha SKM an umbrella body of the farmer unions protesting the farm laws on Friday said there would be no chakka jam in Delhi on February 6 even as it asserted that peasants in other parts of the country will block national and state highways for three hours but in a peaceful wayThe SKM had earlier this week announced this nationwide chakka jam on Saturday saying that farmers would block national and state highways for three hours in protest against the Internet ban in areas near their agitation sites harassment allegedly meted out to them by authorities and other issuesThe External Affairs Ministry has said that any protests must be seen in the context of Indias democratic ethos and polity and the ongoing efforts of the government and the concerned farmer groups to resolve the impasseThe Parliament of India after a full debate and discussion passed reformist legislation relating to the agricultural sector These reforms give expanded market access and provided greater flexibility to farmers They also pave the way for economically and ecologically sustainable farming the MEA said in a statement on WednesdayThe temporary measures with regard to internet access in certain parts of the NCR region were understandably undertaken to prevent further violence it said on Thursday referring to the incidents of violence and vandalism at the historic Red Fort on January 26Congressman Steve Cohen said that India is the largest democracy in the world and free speech is one of the finest hallmarks of democracyI am closely watching the FarmersProtests with concern about potential attacks on freedom of speech including cuts to internet service and statesponsored violence he tweetedThe USA and India were built by small farmers diversity and democracy We cannot stray from our shared values tweeted Congressman Eric SwalwellIndia must commit to peace negotiate with small farmers restore internet access and reject discrimination he saidIn a strong response to the remarks made by foreign individuals and entities the MEA on Wednesday said the temptation of sensationalist social media hashtags and comments is neither accurate nor responsibleThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever