Farmers intensify protest against new laws

NEW DELHI－Indian farmers who have been blockading New Delhi on Tuesday launched a oneday, nationwide general strike to push their demands for the government to repeal reform laws opening up trade in agricultural produce.

Tens of thousands of farmers have been camped on the outskirts of the Indian capital since Nov 27 in protest at the laws in what has become one of the biggest challenges to the Hindu nationalist government since it won a second landslide election in 2019.

Farmers have vowed to block major roads and rail lines across the country for several hours and have been given support by railway workers, truck drivers, teachers and other unions.

Authorities have put thousands of extra police on the streets in Delhi and boosted security in the rest of the country in a bid to head off any trouble.

The federal government issued an advisory to all states to maintain peace and tranquillity in the wake of Tuesday's countrywide shutdown, an official at the Ministry of Home Affairs said on Tuesday.

Five rounds of talks have failed to narrow differences between farmers and ministers. The growing numbers of farmers and their supporters camped outside the capital say they will not go home until the laws are repealed.

Minimum price

The laws allow farmers to sell their produce on the open market－including to supermarket chains－instead of being forced to sell through state-run organizations that guarantee a minimum price.

The farmers say the industry will be taken over by major firms who will force prices down. The government insists the changes are necessary to give agriculture－still the backbone of the Indian economy－a long-term future.

The protests have already caused price rises for fruit and vegetables in Delhi because supplies are restricted.

Rakesh Tikait, a protest leader, said people should not travel during the shutdown and all stores should close.

"We want nothing less than a withdrawal of the new farm laws," said Balbir Singh Rajewal, another protest leader.

The main opposition Congress party and about 15 other political groupings are backing the protest but the government has accused them of opportunism, rejecting measures that they had called for when in power.

The farmers are strongest in the north of the country, but even the government in the southern state of Karnataka suspended online school lessons for the day to show support.

Top athletes including wrestler Kartar Singh, who won gold medals at the Asian Games in 1978 and 1986, said they would return national awards in protest at the laws.

A new round of talks on the laws are to be held on Wednesday.

Agencies - Xinhua