Scores of protesters set off flares in central London as they brand Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi a 'murderer' over new laws that will hurt farmers
Scores of people gathered at a demonstration in central London on Sunday in solidarity with farmers protesting new laws in India.
The Metropolitan Police warned people at the Indian High Commission that they risked being fined if they break coronavirus restrictions, and urged protesters to leave the area. One arrest was made.
The Sikh UK Federation tweeted a video of the protest, showing dozens of people outside the Indian High Commission waving flags and chanting.
Photos showed crowds of people holding signs in support of farmers, bearing messages such as: 'No farmers, no food, no future' and 'India's farmers are sold out by Modi,' referring to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
New laws introduced that will remove protections for farmers selling, storing and pricing their produce have caused outcry in India.
A man has been arrested in central London after scores of people gathered at a demonstration in solidarity with farmers protesting new laws in India
A protester releases blue smoke into the crowd during a protest in central London on Sunday
The Metropolitan Police warned people at the Indian High Commission on Sunday that they risked being fined if they break coronavirus restrictions, and urged protesters to leave the area
Scores of people gathered outside the Indian High Commission in London in what the Sikh Federation UK described as a 'siege'
In the tweet, the Sikh Federation UK described the protest as a 'siege of the Indian High Commission in London in support of farmers peacefully protesting in Delhi.'
Commander Paul Brogden, of Met Police, said: 'I would strongly urge anyone who is planning to come to the Aldwych area to reconsider.
'I would also encourage anyone who is currently in attendance to leave the area.
'Our officers will take the appropriate action where necessary.'
Officers advised motorists to avoid Fleet Street, Strand and Waterloo Bridge.
Officers advised motorists on Sunday to avoid Fleet Street, Strand and Waterloo Bridge to stay out of the way of the protest
Demonstrators held signs and waved flags during the rally in support of protesting Indian farmers
A BMW car blazoned with the message 'NO FARMERS NO FOOD #ISTAND WITH FARMERS
A protester speaks with police at Sunday's rally outside the Indian High Commission in London
The London demonstration came as thousands of Indian farmers angered by laws they say threaten their livelihoods intensified their protests.
On Friday, farmers blocked highways and camped out on the outskirts of the capital, Delhi, and remained in place on Saturday.
The government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and leaders of protesting farmers' unions have held several rounds of talks but have yet to make any progress in breaking the deadlock over the set of laws passed by parliament in September.
The London demonstration came as thousands of Indian farmers angered by laws they say threaten their livelihoods intensified their protests. Pictured: A demonstration at the Delhi-Uttar Pradesh state border on Saturday
On Friday, farmers blocked highways and camped out on the outskirts of the capital, Delhi, and remained in place on Saturday
The new market-friendly set of laws effectively removes protections for farmers around issues of the sale, pricing and storage of produce.
Previous legislation had shielded farmers from an unfettered free market for decades, according to the BBC.
Although various farmers' unions have supported the protest, the agitation is largely led by the growers of relatively well-off states of Punjab and Haryana in India's north.
Every year the Indian government spends billions of dollars on buying millions of tonnes of rice and wheat from Punjab and Haryana, and the world's most expensive food procurement programme has now become the centrepiece of India's biggest farmers' protest in years.
The government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and leaders of protesting farmers' unions have held several rounds of talks but have yet to make any progress in breaking the deadlock over the set of laws passed by parliament in September. Pictured: Demonstrators burn an effigy of Modi and top businessmen in Amritsar on Friday
Farmers listen to a speaker during a protest against the newly passed farm bills at the Singhu border near Delhi on Friday