After a week of clashes with authorities which left one person dead and hundreds injured, Indian farmers began a one-day hunger strike on Saturday in protest against the new agricultural laws.
Tens of thousands of farmers have been camped at protest sites on the outskirts of the capital of New Delhi for more than two months, angry at what they see as laws favoring big private buyers at the expense of growers.
Farmer leaders said Saturday's hunger strike, coinciding with Indian independence leader Mahatma Gandhi's death anniversary, will demonstrate to Indians that the demonstrators were largely peaceful.
On Tuesday's Republic Day, a scheduled tractor parade turned violent when some demonstrators deviated from pre-agreed paths, ripped down barricades, and clashed with police who were using tear gas to try to restrain them.
Tens of thousands of farmers have been camped at protest sites on the outskirts of the capital of New Delhi for more than two months, angry at what they see as laws favoring big private buyers at the expense of growers.
Farmer leaders said Saturday's hunger strike, coinciding with Indian independence leader Mahatma Gandhi's death anniversary, will demonstrate to Indians that the demonstrators were largely peaceful.
On Tuesday's Republic Day, a scheduled tractor parade turned violent when some demonstrators deviated from pre-agreed paths, ripped down barricades, and clashed with police who were using tear gas to try to restrain them.