(Daily Point) — Indian farmers have declined a proposal put forward by the government and have announced their intention to persist with their march towards the capital, New Delhi.

Last week, as the protesting farmers advanced towards the city, they faced strong resistance from authorities. Tear gas and heavily fortified barriers impeded their progress, a measure taken to prevent a repeat of the prolonged 2021 farmer protests, which saw demonstrators camped on the outskirts for over a year.

On Monday night, leaders of the farming community announced their rejection of the government’s proposal for a five-year contract ensuring prices for specific crops, including pulses, maize, and cotton. Jagjit Singh Dallewal, a prominent leader of the protest, stated to the Press Trust of India news agency that the offer from the government did not address the farmers’ concerns. Despite being stationed approximately 120 miles from the capital awaiting the government’s response, tens of thousands of farmers, according to Dallewal, will resume their march to New Delhi on Wednesday.

Dallewal urged the government to either address their grievances or remove the barricades hindering their peaceful protest route to Delhi. These demonstrations recall those from over two years ago when tens of thousands of farmers staged a prolonged sit-in on the outskirts of New Delhi, ultimately leading the government to repeal contentious agriculture laws.

The ongoing protests revolve around demands for legislation guaranteeing minimum support prices for all agricultural produce. Currently, the government provides farmers with a safety net against steep price declines by setting a minimum purchase price for essential crops, a system introduced in the 1960s to stabilize food reserves and prevent shortages.

Farmers argue that a guaranteed minimum support price would offer stability to their incomes. They also insist on the fulfillment of promises made during the 2021 protests, including doubling their income, waiving their loans, and withdrawing legal actions against them.

Despite several meetings between farm leaders and government officials, a resolution remains elusive. Piyush Goyal, one of the ministers engaging with the farmers, acknowledged that some demands are complex and deeply entrenched in policy, exacerbating the challenge of finding common ground.

These protests occur against the backdrop of upcoming national elections, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s party poised to secure a third consecutive term. Farmers, a crucial constituency for Modi, wield significant influence in northern Haryana and other states governed by his Bharatiya Janata Party.