Farmers protesting the agriculture laws will not back down and it is in the government's interest to relent, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi said Tuesday, amid renewed support for those fighting to repeal the laws, particularly after emotional appeals from Bharatiya Kisan Union (Arajnaitik) chief Rakesh Tikait and a six-word tweet from international pop star Rihanna. Mr Gandhi also criticised the government over disturbing images of farmer protest sites along the Delhi border being turned into "fortresses", complete with barbed wire, concrete walls, row upon row of metal barricades and large groups of police and paramilitary forces standing guard.