Thousands of Indian farmers renew protests against reforms

• 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.