NEW DELHI, 18 December, 2020, (TON): The ongoing farmers protest in India against deregulation of agriculture markets have taken an ugly turn, with the powerful international Sikh Diaspora in Canada, UK and the USA urging their governments to express concern over the rapidly deteriorating grave situation and to intercede with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Tens and thousands of farmers, mostly from the Sikh-dominated state of Punjab have camped near the border of New Delhi since November 27 to protest the new laws, blocking most of the entry points to the national capital, demanding Modi roll back the reforms intended to bring investment in the antiquated farm sector but which the farmers say will leave them at the mercy of big corporations.

Sikhs living overseas, most of whom have families at home tied to the farms, have picked up the thread in the US, the UK, Canada and Australia, demonstrating outside Indian embassies to draw attention.

On Thursday, 250 to 300 Sikhs and other overseas Indians took part in a rally in a Melbourne district to express their support for India’s farmers, said Rajbir Singh, who runs a small transport business in Melbourne, Reuters reported.

On Saturday, people of Indian origin plan to carry out similar protests near the state parliament of Victoria in Melbourne, said Siftnoor Singh, a data scientist.

Sikhs and other Indian Punjabis overseas are estimated at 12 million. They form a tightly knit group and are vociferous in articulating the concerns of the community back home.

36 members of the British Parliament have expressed solidarity with the ongoing farmers’ agitation in India and have written to UK’s Foreign Secretary, Dominic Raab to raise the matter with New Delhi.

Since the farmers’ protest started more than two weeks ago in India, members of the diaspora have participated in protest marches in nearly 50 different cities. Sikh community in different parts of the world is supporting the farmers’ movement. Indian government has declined comment on the protests overseas.