New Delhi (Web Desk): Tens of thousands of Indian farmers intensified their protests against three new agricultural laws.
Angry farmers staged demonstrations near New Delhi after rejecting Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s assurances that the laws would double farmers’ income.
The farmers are protesting the three laws aimed at overhauling food grain procurement and pricing rules by allowing private companies direct access to the vast agrarian sector.
Six rounds of talks between government officials and farmer union leaders have failed to resolve the challenge faced by Modi’s government.
“Hundreds of farmers will launch a tractor trolley march to New Delhi to voice our grievances against the new laws,” said Kamal Preet Singh Pannu, a leader of Sanyukta Kisan Andolan (United Farmers’ Protest), one of 30 groups against the laws.
“Government wants to discredit and crush our movement, but we will continue to protest peacefully,” Pannu said.
Local authorities increased security measures, deploying police and putting up barricades to prevent farmers from entering New Delhi in large numbers. Opposition parties and some senior economists have lent support to the protests.
