THOUSANDS have signed a Maidenhead councillor’s campaign calling for the Government to make a public statement on the mass farmers’ protest in India.

St Mary’s ward councillor Gurch Singh’s petition has nearly reached the 100,000 signature milestone for it to be considered for debate in Parliament.

The petition – which was started on December 17 and has garnered over 87,000 signatures – demands the Government make a public statement, urging the Indian Government to ensure the safety of protesters and maintain press freedoms there.

For months, tens of thousands of farmers across India have flooded into Delhi and clashed with police after peacefully protesting Prime Minister Narenda Modi’s controversial agricultural reform.

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The farmers said they weren’t consulted on these radical changes, fearing the new laws will threaten decades-old concessions – such as assured prices – and weaken their bargaining power, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation by private companies.

Nearly a week ago, thousands of farmers and Delhi police officers were injured, and at least one protester died in violent clashes during marches in the Indian capital.

Cllr Singh, whose family is from Punjab, said he started the petition following concerns raised by constituents and residents living in the Royal Borough.

He said: “What’s happening in India right now is absolutely heartbreaking. To see peaceful protesters being openly attacked by officials, in public, is shocking and these actions, which have no place in modern society, should be condemned.

“What’s more, the journalists who are reporting facts on the events as they unfold are being arrested and detained.”

Indian farmers protesting the Governments controverisal bill

Indian farmers protesting the Government's controverisal bill

He added: “I felt we needed to take some action and speaking to community leaders and some of the temples up and down the country, everybody was in the same position.

“I thought why don’t we petition the British Government.

“The farmers want to have their rights and their rights maintained – and if we can play our part in the UK and keep the focus on there and let the press report without bias.

“I think if we can keep that spotlight on, we can play a small part in saving a huge percentage of the world’s population. The last thing I want to see is more lives lost and more bloodshed.”

Although Cllr Singh was “confident” the petition will reach 100,000 signatures, he said he will be liaising with the petition committee to see if it can be debated before it reaches that milestone.

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The petition’s deadline is on June 17 – but Cllr Singh said: “We can’t wait until June. This issue has got to be resolved now.

“If we wait until June, there’s going to be more lives lost and there’s going to be more bloodshed.”

Further to the petition, Cllr Singh said he has written to Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, Maidenhead MP Theresa May, and Slough MP Tan Dhesi highlighting the issue and calling for the Government to act.

Mrs May has confirmed she will be writing to the Foreign Office in India regarding the situation.

The Government will respond to the petition as over 10,000 people have signed it.

The petition can be viewed and signed here: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/563473.