Indian police have used tear gas and water cannon for a
second day to stop farmers demanding minimum crop prices from marching on the
capital Delhi.
The capital is ringed by razor wire, cement blocks and
fencing on three sides to block their entry.
Mostly from Punjab state, the farmers are still 200km (125
miles) from Delhi - thousands of security forces are deployed to block their
way.
Farmers say the government broke its word after protests two
years ago.
In 2020, farmers blockaded national highways around the
capital - their year-long protest was a major challenge and forced the
authorities to roll back controversial agriculture reforms, but farmers say
other demands have not been met. The government has invited farm leaders to
hold talks.
The new protests come months before general elections in
which the governing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of PM Narendra Modi is seeking
a third consecutive term.
Video footage on Wednesday morning showed thousands of riot
police and paramilitary troops deployed along Delhi borders to keep the
protesters away.
Farmers allege that plastic and rubber bullets had been used
against them, and they criticised the media, saying a perception was being
created that farmers were "terrorists" or aligned with opposition
parties.
"We have nothing to do with anyone else," farm
leader Sarwan Singh Pandher told reporters. "Our demands have been the
same from the very beginning."
At the Shambhu border point between Haryana and Punjab
states north of Delhi, farmers have been distributing protective eyewear to
protesters facing police tear gas shells.
Earlier, Mr Pandher told ANI news agency that there were
approximately 10,000 people at the Shambhu border. Calling the attack on the
farmers "shameful", he said, "we are farmers and labourers of
the country and we do not want any fight".
Why India farmers are protesting again
Tear gas fired as farmers march on fortress Delhi
Mr Pandher appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi "to
give us a law for MSP".
Minimum support price (MSP) is a guaranteed price that
allows farmers to sell most of their produce at government-controlled wholesale
markets, or mandis. The farmers are also demanding that the government fulfil
its promise of doubling their income, and withdraw court cases filed against
farmers during the previous protest.
Farm leaders say at least a dozen farmers have been detained
by the police since Tuesday, the day the protest march began after two rounds
of talks between farm unions and federal ministers failed to break the
deadlock.
On Wednesday, federal minister Anurag Thakur asked farmers
to resume talks. "When we have met most of your [farmers'] demands, a
solution can be found on the rest through discussions," he told news
channel NDTV.
Farm leaders said they were open to continuing talks after
hearing about the offer through media. "Our priority is that the talks are
held in Chandigarh or anywhere near the protest site," said one of their
leaders, Jagjit Singh Dallewal.
More than 200 unions are participating in the march and the
farmers aim to reach the capital after crossing the state of Haryana.
On Tuesday, images from the city of Ambala, 200km north of
the capital, showed thick clouds of tear gas. At Shambhu, clashes broke out
between police and protesters as they tried to press past the barricades.
Police dropped tear gas on the crowd using drones.
Several protesters were injured. Security personnel also
suffered injuries from stones thrown at them by protesters.
Disruption was reported across Delhi as authorities diverted
traffic and blocked roads.
The protesters have received some support from the Punjab
and Haryana High Court which has said that as citizens of the country, the
farmers had the "right to move freely".
India's opposition leaders have also extended support to
them and condemned the government's attempt to stop them from reaching Delhi.
Congress party leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge
said on Tuesday that they would enact a law to guarantee minimum price for the
farmers if the party was voted to power in the elections.
