IN PICS: Thousands of farmers are staging massive protests in at least 13 states in India

• From Punjab to Karnataka, thousands of farmers, backed by opposition party leaders, are asking the government to withdraw the recently passed farm laws.
  
• Protestors have been shouting slogans, sitting on railway tracks, blocking highways, torching tractors to draw the attention of the government.
  
• Protests were held in Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Telangana, Gujarat, Goa, Odisha and Tamil Nadu, where the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and its allies, including the Congress, hit the streets.
  

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, farmers’ protest against the agricultural bills passed by the Modi government last week has intensified in at least 13 states in India. From Punjab to Karnataka, thousands of farmers, backed by opposition party leaders, are asking the government to withdraw the recently passed laws.


President Ram Nath Kovind on Sunday gave his assent to the three contentious bills — the Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020, the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020, and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill, 2020.

Congress has been leading the protest in most of the states across the country. Interim Chief Sonia Gandhi urged Congress’ leaders in power to override the Modi government’s decision.

Protestors have been shouting slogans, sitting on railway tracks, blocking highways, torching tractors to draw the attention of the government. Police have already detained five members of the Punjab Youth Congress, who burned down a tractor in front of India Gate yesterday (September 28).