Protesting farmers on one-day hunger strike

New Delhi, January 30

Farmers sat on a one-day hunger strike on Saturday in protest against new agricultural laws.

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

A tractor parade on Republic Day turned violent when some protesters deviated from pre-agreed routes, tore down barricades and clashed with police, who used teargas to try and restrain them.

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Sporadic clashes between protesters, police and groups shouting anti-farmer slogans have broken out on multiple occasions since then.

Farmer leaders said Saturday’s hunger strike, to coincide with the death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, would show people that the protesters were overwhelmingly peaceful.

“The farmers’ movement was peaceful and will be peaceful,” said Darshan Pal, a leader of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha. — Reuters