Why are Indian farmers so angry at a new law they're on a hunger strike and taking over this highway?

Agitated farmers took over a highway in Alwar, India on December 13 as part of their demand to reverse a law that they believe threatens their livelihood.

Q: Why are farmers so angry right now?

A: New laws seek to deregulate India's enormous agriculture sector by allowing farmers to sell their produce to private buyers beyond government-run wholesale markets, where farmers have been assured a minimum price for their crops.

Q: What do farmers in India think will happen?

A: The farmers say the laws threaten their livelihoods and will only benefit big corporations, leaving growers at the mercy of a free market.

Q: What are the farmers doing in response?

A: Taking a hunger strike, organizing sit-ins across the nation and taking over major highways, as seen in this footage.

"We have given a call for protests in all the districts all over India. Main leaders belonging to different farmer organizations will observe fast as a means of protest against the new agriculture laws," Darshan Pal, a farmer leader, told international media, adding that if the government invited them again for talks, "we will consider it positively".

Q: What does the government say in response?

A: India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi the legislation was needed to boost the agriculture sector, and that the new laws would benefit the farmers and "liberate" them from the tyranny of middlemen.