NEW DELHI: India’s prime minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday protestersthat stormed New Delhi’s Red Fort had caused “insult” to the country, hisfirst public comments on a months-long farmers’ agitation that turnedviolent last week.

Tens of thousands of farmers have camped on the outskirts of the capitalfor more than two months, protesting new agricultural laws they say benefitprivate buyers at the expense of growers.

A tractor parade on Tuesday’s Republic Day turned violent when someprotesters deviated from pre-agreed routes, clashing with police andbreaking into the historic Red Fort complex in the capital. One died andhundreds were injured.

“The country was saddened by the insult to the Tricolor (Indian flag) onthe 26th of January in Delhi,” Modi said in a radio address on Sunday.

“The government is committed to modernizing agriculture and is also takingmany steps in that direction.”

Farm leaders say they were not responsible for violence, that was caused bya minority of those on the parade, and the government has left open thepossibility talks between the two sides will resume.

Modi told opposition party leaders on Saturday an offer to freeze the lawsfor 18 months still stands, according to a government summary of themeeting.

Agriculture employs about half of India’s labour force, and unrest among anestimated 150 million landowning farmers is one of the biggest challengesto Modi’s rule since he first came to power in 2014.