India farmers protest against Modi

– Thousands of farmers and labourers paralysed the Indian capital yesterday in a protest against what they called the anti-people policies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government, as opposition parties step up pressure ahead of key elections.

New Delhi

A sharp drop in commodity prices and stagnant wages have dented Modi’s popularity in rural areas home to about two-thirds of India’s people, and key to his hopes of winning a second term in next year’s general elections.

Modi also failed to deliver on a promised tens of millions of jobs for young people that helped him get the largest mandate in three decades in 2014.

“The farmers are very angry with the Modi government,” said Karan Singh, a rice grower from Haryana state. “We’re suffering losses and the government is doing nothing about it.” – Reuters