Bill Text: CA SR8 | 2021-2022 | Regular Session | Introduced

California Senate Resolution 8 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Relative to solidarity with Indian farmers.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-02-02 - Introduced. Referred to Com. on RLS. [SR8 Detail]

Download: California-2021-SR8-Introduced.html

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2021–2022 REGULAR SESSION

Senate Resolution

No. 8

Introduced by Senator Grove

February 02, 2021

Relative to solidarity with Indian farmers.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

SR 8, as introduced, Grove.

WHEREAS, The Senate understands and respect the contributions of farmers in India, and across the world, in feeding nations and fostering trade; and

WHEREAS, California is home to individuals who have family who are farmers in their ancestral countries and agriculture is the primary source of livelihood for 58 percent of India’s population, with 85 percent of farmers owning less than five acres of land; and

WHEREAS, The Indian government proposed and passed legislation in September 2020 that deregulates the agriculture sector and, by removing significant protections for farmers and price protections for consumers, ultimately gives corporations unprecedented control over India’s food supply; and

WHEREAS, This legislation has had disparate impacts on specific states and classes of India’s religious and caste communities; and

WHEREAS, These new laws have set off protests across India and in the capital city of New Delhi, where hundreds of thousands of farmers have been protesting since November 2020; and

WHEREAS, A respect for the rights of freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, and freedom of the press, and a thriving civil society are core components of a functioning democracy; and

WHEREAS, Farmers have the right to demonstrate peacefully and the Senate condemns any government brutality and failures to protect demonstrators from violence; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, That the Senate objects to any retaliation or police brutality against the farmers in India who are assembling for peaceful protests; and be it further

Resolved, That the Senate requests that the Indian government provide a path for its people to have constructive dialogue in accordance with democratic principles and avert further loss of life; and be it further

Resolved, That the Senate calls upon the Indian government to provide nongovernmental organizations access to ensure transparency and to protect the rights of peaceful protestors; and be it further

Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this resolution to the author for distribution.