India has been hit by severe road and rail traffic disruptions as farmers and opposition activists intensified their campaign against new laws intended to pave the way for the reform of agricultural markets.
The nationwide strike, in support of thousands of protesting farmers who have massed at New Delhi’s state border for the past 12 days, presents an awkward political challenge to Narendra Modi.
The Indian prime minister revels in his image as a strongman able to impose his will on an unruly nation but his Bharatiya Janata Party has been trying to woo farmers.
Analysts said pushing big agricultural commodity market reforms, which affect millions of people, without any serous public consultation was a recipe for unrest.
“The new law is a death warrant for farmers like me and even for the general public,” said Rasam…