NEW DELHI – Thousands of Indian farmers marched overnight to reinforce protesting colleagues camping out on the outskirts of New Delhi, to press the government to withdraw three new farm laws that they say will hurt their livelihoods.
In a stand-off between riot police and the farmers, authorities tried to clear a protest site in the city’s east but most farmers refused to move and their leaders said any retreat would constitute surrender.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government introduced the new agricultural laws in September, triggering a wave of protests and sit-ins on some of the major approaches to New Delhi.
Farm leaders say the laws are an attempt to erode a longstanding mechanism that ensures farmers a minimum support price for their rice and wheat.(Reuters)
