In India, farmers have rejected an offer by the government to defer three farm reform laws for one-and-half years, warning they would step up protests as they seek a repeal of the laws and a guarantee on minimum crop prices.

Farm leaders said hundreds of thousands of farmers from neighbouring states including Haryana, Punjab and western Uttar Pradesh would drive tractors through New Delhi on January 26, the Republic Day national holiday when Prime Minister Narendra Modi will join a parade of military forces.

Meanwhile, the 11th round of talks between government officials led by Agricultural minister Narendra Singh Tomar and forty farm leaders remained inconclusive.

Supporting the farmers, the main opposition Congress party said that the government had shown shocking insensitivity and arrogance towards farmers and urged it to accept their demands.