We used to fortify India's capital against tens of thousands of farmers who have been protesting agricultural reforms for months.

They arguably posed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's biggest challenge.

Since he came to power in 2014, the farmers have grabbed attention around the world and high profile supporters in the West, from Greta Tamberg to Rihanna, My uncle Bhardwaj has been covering the story from New Delhi is perhaps the biggest protest off in decades.

They have been camping out on a limb.

Important major highways coming to Delhi for more than 70 days now on booth reinforcement, the facilities there, the community kitchen there.

That's just pretty amazing.

The largest takes the cohesion, Let me.

India's agricultural sector employs about half of its population, but accounts for only about 15% of the country's $2.9 trillion economy.

In September, the parliament passed controversial new farm bills, changing longstanding rules that govern the vast sector.

Rallies eventually made their way to the capital, where protest camps sprouted on the outskirts.

The campaign was largely peaceful until January 26th, protesters drove a procession of tractors into the heart of new Delhi on India's Republic Day, some of them storming the historic red fort.

Police met protesters with tear gas and batons.

By the end of the day, one person was left dead and hundreds were injured.

Farm leaders condemned the violence, but a tense standoff ensued in the following days on January 30th.

Has some protesters began hunger striking India blocked mobile Internet services in several areas around New Delhi, prompting international criticism.

To know why there's some rest is occurring requires an understanding of India's agricultural sector.

There are a few demands, but the most important one is about a law which allows private buyers, private retailers or traders or wholesalers directly by from farmers.

Beat, you know at their farm and their daughter step uh, Andi.

That basically changes are on a Joel law which required farmers to bring all their produce to government control, regulated wholesale markets.

So farmers believe that this law will weaken thes wholesale markets, make them irrelevant on duh.

Initially, private buyers will offer them good prices.

But as thes wholesale markets will vanish had as thes middle men will vanish off, private companies will start dictating prices on.

As a result, farmers gonna have no bargaining bar on anyway.

In India, more than 80% farmers are a small drawers.

They have only two hectares of land.

So they say, Anyway, we do not have, you know, cloud to deal with private buyers.

The government, however, says the reforms will bring much needed investment other than farmers.

Some economists believe that it was not needed because there is a system which are so well so why to fix something which is not broken.

So economists are divided.

Yeah, some some.

Some believe that it will help Indian agriculture in the long term.

There have been several rounds of talks between the government and union leaders, but no sign of a break in the deadlock.

The government has offered some concessions but has ruled out abandoning the reforms.

Modi retains a solid majority in parliament.

Although the protests are beginning to undermine rural support for the government, he remains no doubt remains the most popular politician even today.

But to begin with, this quarter's started.

It was largely confined toe the bread basket skates off my job in Haryana, but we have seen in the past few weeks it has spread to other parts of the country.

So it's John.

Now it threatens is, you know, Thio Dentist popularity in Religious Up East protesters say they're going to scale up their efforts and they won't back down until the bills are repealed.