Farmers' protest: Modi govt under pressure as agitation finds wider support

Farmer leaders have said the government has so far ruled out any rollback of the legislation

India’s farmers have vowed to expand their protests across the country, buoyed by growing support from other key groups like military veterans, increasing the pressure on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government to scrap its new farm laws.

Farmers’ issues are both emotive as well politically significant in the country of more than 1.3 billion people, where over 60% depend on agriculture either directly or indirectly. The added support, especially from retired soldiers, another widely respected group, makes it increasingly likely that the protests will spread beyond the Indian capital. Banking and IT workers as well as a dozen opposition parties