Thousands of Indian farmers renewed protests against legislation backed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government that they say threatens their businesses and livelihoods, Reuters reports.
Driving the news: The laws, which were introduced in September 2020, deregulate agriculture and let farmers sell produce to buyers outside of the government-regulated markets. Farmers say the laws benefit big corporations.
- The government argues the laws are needed to modernize agriculture, AP notes.
State of play: Farmers have blocked major highways around New Delhi for the past 10 months, per Reuters.
- Farmer unions have called on businesses to close in solidarity with their strike Monday, but most have continued work as usual, AP reports.
- Talks between farmers and the government have repeatedly failed to reach an agreement, per AP.
What they're saying: Modi's government “has not been listening to the farmers for 10 months and has been ignoring the protests," Abhimanyu Kohar of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (Joint Farmers Front) told Al Jazeera.
- "So we have given the call for ‘Bharat Bandh’ (pan-India strike) so that every group, classes, young and old farmers, and traders unite against the policy of the present government," Kohar added.
The big picture: Agriculture accounts for about 15% of India’s economy and employs nearly 60% of its 1.4 billion people.
- The pandemic has significantly impacted India's farming industry, with several farmers struggling to make a living or pay their debts, per the New York Times.