SINGHU, India (Reuters) - India blocked mobile internet services in several areas around New Delhi on Saturday as protesting farmers began a one-day hunger strike after a week of clashes with authorities that left one dead and hundreds injured.
“Many farmers’ groups have joined the protest site since last night,” said Mahesh Singh, a 65-year-old farmer from Haryana.
“They have come to show their support and more farmers are expected to come in the next two days.”.
Indian authorities often block local internet services when they believe there will be unrest, although the move is unusual in the capital.
“The farmers’ movement was peaceful and will be peaceful,” said Darshan Pal, a leader of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha group of farm unions organising the protests.
The government has offered to put the laws on hold for 18 months, but farmers say they will not end their protests for anything less than full repeal.
Sporadic clashes between protesters, police and groups shouting anti-farmer slogans have broken out on multiple occasions since then. »