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NEW DELHI, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- Thousands of farmers on Thursday staged a tractor march against the new agriculture laws from protest sites on the outskirts of India's national capital of New Delhi.

The marches were held at Singhu, Tikri and Ghazipur borders amid heavy security presence.

According to the protesting farmer unions, this was just a "rehearsal" for their proposed Jan. 26 (India's Republic Day) tractor parade that will enter the national capital from different parts of Haryana, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh.

"This is just the beginning, we warn the government if it doesn't accept our demands, we will intensify our protests in the days to come," said a protesting farmer.

Thursday's march was held a day ahead of the eighth round of talks between protesting farmers and the Indian federal government.

Seven rounds of talks between the two sides have not yielded any results. Farmer leaders are urging the repeal of the three controversial new farm laws, a demand outrightly rejected by the government.

Braving cold weather and sporadic downpour, thousands of farmers have been protesting for over a month in and around Delhi, occupying roads.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been strongly defending the three laws ever since the protest broke out in last November. Enditem