WebDesk
27 February
Sandeep Dhand
In a striking display of solidarity, farmers from Punjab and Haryana, mirroring their counterparts at the Delhi border, have brought their protest to the heart of Europe. Brussels, the headquarters of the European Union (EU), witnessed a sea of tractors as disgruntled farmers voiced their grievances against bureaucracy and the challenges posed by cheap imported products.
As agriculture ministers from the 27 EU member states convened at the main office on Monday, the surroundings were fortified with concrete barricades and barbed wire. Riot police vigilantly patrolled the area, anticipating the farmers’ demonstration. Hundreds of tractors adorned with flags and banners caused disruptions in the city’s traffic, creating a symbolic stand against the issues faced by the agricultural community.
“Farming, as a child you dream of it but as an adult you die for it,” lamented one protester, capturing the sentiment that fueled the demonstration. Tensions escalated as farmers loaded trolleys a few hundred meters from the European Council building. Despite attempts to set a pile of tires ablaze, police intervention prevented the escalation of the situation.
This protest follows a recent violent episode where farmers clashed with authorities during an EU leaders’ summit, burning grass, and pelting police with eggs and firecrackers. Marieke van de Vivere, a farmer from the Ghent region in northern Belgium, voiced the frustration of many, stating, “We are being ignored.”
The farmers’ presence in Brussels serves as a potent reminder that agricultural challenges resonate globally. The clash between the farming community and policymakers underscores the urgency of addressing the concerns raised by those who toil the land for their livelihoods.