Protesting Indian farmers begin hunger strike after week of clashes

Protesting Indian farmers begin hunger strike after week of clashes

Farmers shout slogans as they arrive at the site of an ongoing protests against farm laws at the Delhi-Uttar Pradesh border. AP





Gulf Today Report

Indian farmers began a one-day hunger strike on Saturday as major Indian opposition parties boycotted the opening day of Parliament's budget session on Friday in solidarity with protesting farmers engaged in a 2-month standoff over new agricultural laws the government refuses to repeal.

The protests were marked by violence on Tuesday, India's Republic Day, when tens of thousands of farmers riding tractors and on foot stormed the 17th century Red Fort in a brief but shocking takeover shown live on news channels.

In protest against new agricultural laws after a week of clashes between the protesters and government forces left one protester dead and nearly 400 police officers injured.

People shout anti-farmers slogans and wave India's flags as police officers try to stop them at Singhu border near New Delhi. Reuters

Angry at what they see as laws benefiting large private buyers at the expense of producers, tens of thousands of farmers have been camped at protest sites on the outskirts of the capital New Delhi for over two months.