Farmers To Block Delhi-Jaipur Highway Today, Protests Set To Escalate

Thousands of farmers - protesting against the government's controversial agricultural laws - will take out a massive protest rally today to block the Delhi-Jaipur highway as they pledge to intensify their agitation, which started late November. Today's rally will be followed by an all-India hunger strike on Monday when the demonstrators plan to hold protests at district offices. On Saturday, over 4,000 policemen were deployed in Gurgaon and Haryana to stop the farmers from occupying highways. The laws are meant to bring reforms and increase farmers' income, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday in what was seen as a renewed assurance from the government.