NEW DELHI (AP) – Thousands of protesting Indian farmers blocked roads across the country for several hours on Saturday to pressure their demands for repeal of new agricultural laws that led to months of massive protests.
Protesters used tractors, trucks and even stones to block roads. They carried banners and flags denouncing the laws, which they say will leave them poorer and at the mercy of corporations.
“We will continue to fight until our last breath,” said Jhajjan Singh, 80, a farmer at a protest site in Ghazipur. Prime Minister Narendra “Modi must know whether he will remain or we will go.”
Authorities sent thousands of security forces mainly outside the capital of India, where farmers camped at three main sites for more than two months. Farmers said they will not leave until the government repeals the laws.
Saturday’s blockade started at noon and lasted three hours. No violence was reported immediately.
Several rounds of negotiations between farmers and the government have produced no progress. The government said the laws are necessary to modernize Indian agriculture.
On Friday, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar defended the laws in Parliament, lowering hopes for a quick deal, as he made no new offer to resume negotiations with farmers.
The protests turned violent on January 26, Republic Day of India, when a group of farmers on tractors deviated from the protest route and invaded the 17th century Red Fort. Hundreds of police were injured, as were dozens of farmers. One protester died.
Farmers’ leaders condemned the violence, but said they would not cancel the protest.
Since then, authorities have greatly increased security at protest sites outside the New Delhi border., adding iron stakes and steel barricades to prevent farmers from entering the capital.
Meanwhile, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has asked authorities and protesters to exercise “maximum restraint”.
“The rights of peaceful assembly and expression must be protected both offline and online. It is crucial to find equitable solutions with due respect to #HumanRights for all, ”said the UN body in a tweet on Friday.