Security forces use tear gas to stop a farmers’ march of thousands headed to the capital Delhi to demand a minimum price for produce
The police of India used tear gas and water cannons for a second day to stop it the farmers marched to the capital, Delhi, to demand minimum crop prices, the BBC reported.
The capital is surrounded by barbed wire, cement blocks and fences on three sides to block their entry.
Most farmers from Punjab state are still 200 km from Delhi.. Thousands of security forces are deployed to block their way.
Farmers say the government has broken its word after the protests two years ago.
In 2020, farmers blocked national highways around the capital – their year-long protest was a major challenge and forced authorities to roll back controversial agricultural reforms, but farmers say other demands have not been met. The government has invited farm leaders for talks.
The farmers claimed that plastic and rubber bullets were used against them and criticized the media, saying it was creating the impression that the farmers were “terrorists” or linked to opposition parties.
“We have nothing to do with anyone else,” leader Sarwan Singh Pandher told reporters. Our demands have been the same since the beginning.
At the Shambhu border crossing between the states of Haryana and Punjab, north of Delhi, farmers hand out protective goggles to protesters facing tear gas shells from police.
Earlier, Pandher told news agency ANI that there are approximately 10,000 people at the Shambhu border. Calling the attack on farmers “shameful”, he said “we are farmers and workers of the country and we don’t want any fight”.
He appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to “give us an ICR law”.
A minimum produce price is a guaranteed price that allows farmers to sell most of their produce in government-controlled wholesale markets. The farmers are also demanding that the government fulfill its promise to double their income and withdraw the lawsuits filed against the farmers during the previous protest.
More than 200 unions are taking part in the march, and the farmers are aiming to reach the capital after crossing the state of Haryana.
On Tuesday, pictures from the city of Ambala, 200 km north of the capital, showed thick clouds of tear gas. Clashes broke out in Shambhu between police and protesters who tried to break through the barricades. Police fired tear gas at the crowd using drones.
Several protesters were injured. Security guards were also injured by stones thrown at them by protesters.
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