70 dead in protests against farming laws in India

Farmers’ unions claim 70 farmers have died at the protest sites.

Meanwhile, the ninth round of centre-farmer talks ended yesterday with no progress towards ending the stalemate.

The protesting farmers believe that the new laws have been drafted to facilitate ease of doing business for large corporations including Adani Group, eliminating safeguards for farmers and leaving them vulnerable.

The new laws allow market forces to venture freely into the farm sector in India, which is heavily regulated by the government.

Next round of talks on January 19, the day the Supreme Court-appointed panel was likely to start consulting stakeholders over the three contentious farm laws.

To increase pressure on the government, the farmer unions have decided to go ahead and intensify their stir with a tractor rally on January 26.

Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra today protested outside Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal's official residence yesterday, in solidarity with those farmers who have been protesting against the central government's recently introduced agricultural laws.

Indian farmers have been protesting against these laws for over 50 days.