Protesting Indian farmers begin hunger strike amid fury against Modi

Farmers shout slogans as they arrive at the site of an ongoing protests against farm laws at the Delhi-Uttar Pradesh border, on the outskirts of New Delhi, India, Friday, Jan. 29, 2021. Major Indian opposition parties boycotted the opening day of Parliament’s budget session Friday in solidarity with farmers engaged in a 2-month standoff over new agricultural laws the government refuses to repeal. The protests were marked by violence on Tuesday, India’s Republic Day, when tens of thousands of farmers riding tractors and on foot stormed the 17th century Red Fort in a brief but shocking takeover that played out live on news channels. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

Indian farmers and their leaders spearheading more than two months of protests against new agriculture laws have started a one-day hunger strike, directing their fury as prime minister Narendra Modi and his government.

Farmer leaders said the hunger strike, which coincides with the anniversary of the death of independence leader Mahatma Gandhi, will reaffirm the peaceful nature of the protests.