Indian farmers peacefully blocks highways nationwide

Tens of thousands of protesting Indian farmers have blocked highways across the country while the United Nations authorities and protesters call for maximum self-control. The farmers held announced a roadblock across the country around 12 am on Saturday (06:30 GMT), except in New Delhi and a few neighboring states. "Today, the support of the whole society is with farmers," Yogendra Yadav, a political activist who is one of the farmers' movement leaders, said on Twitter. "The victory is certain."

On a highway near the capital, some farmers smoked water pipes while songs were played on a loudspeaker.

Farmers crouched on the road in Odisha and Karnataka's eastern state in the south with flags and banners protesting against the laws. Some had posters urging the government not to treat them as enemies. Authorities have deployed thousands of security forces, mainly outside India's capital, where farmers have been camping at three major sites for more than two months to repeal new agricultural laws. They say they will not leave until the government revokes the laws they say are needed to modernize Indian agriculture. "The right to peaceful assembly and expression must be protected both online and offline," the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights said on Twitter on Friday. "It's crucial to find equitable solutions considering #HumanRights for all."

Several rounds of talks between farmers and the government yielded no breakthroughs. The farmers say the laws will leave them poorer and at the mercy of corporations.

Their actions are a major challenge for Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar defended the laws in parliament on Friday, dampening hopes of a speedy settlement as he made no new offer to resume talks with farmers.

The largely peaceful rally turned violent on January 26, India's Republic Day, when a group of farmers driving tractors swerved off the protest route and stormed the 17th - century Red Fort.