Tear gas fired as thousands of farmers march on Delhi

Police in northern India have fired tear gas to prevent thousands of protesting farmers demanding minimum crop prices from marching on Delhi, BBC reports.

The capital is ringed by razor wire, cement blocks and fencing on three sides to keep protests at bay.

The government fears a repeat of 2020 - dozens died in a year-long protest that ended only after ministers agreed to repeal controversial agriculture laws.

But just over two years later, farmers say other demands have not been met.

India's farmers form an influential voting bloc and analysts say the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be keen not to alienate them. His Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is seeking a third consecutive term in power in general elections this year.

Pictures on Tuesday showed thick clouds of tear gas being used to disperse protesters near the city of Ambala, about 200km (125 miles) north of the capital.

Police also fired tear gas, as they did on Monday, at the Shambhu border between Haryana and Punjab states. Drones flew continuously over the crowd and dropped tear gas on people below.

"It literally rained tear gas shells through the day," said a BBC Punjabi reporter who was present. There were a few injuries in the crowd - mainly people hit by plastic bullets fired by police.

In response, some demonstrators pelted police with stones. Farmers used wet sacks and clothes to protect themselves from the tear gas shells.

Farmers, most of whom are from Punjab, say they want to peacefully cross Haryana to reach Delhi, but they have not been allowed to do so. Scuffles between police and protesters have also been reported at the Shambhu border and the situation remains tense.

In 2020, protesting farmers hunkered down for months, blocking national highways that connect the capital to its neighbouring states. The movement was seen as one of the biggest challenges to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government.

Traffic jams and disruptions were reported across Delhi on Tuesday as authorities blocked roads and diverted traffic.

Police have also prohibited large gatherings in the city, including at border points between the capital and neighbouring Uttar Pradesh and Haryana states, through which the farmers are expected to reach the capital.

In Haryana, the BJP-led state government has suspended internet services in seven districts until Tuesday. Two rounds of talks between farm union leaders and federal ministers have so far failed to break the deadlock.

Farmers are asking for guaranteed floor prices - also known as minimum support price or MSP - which allows them to sell most of their produce at government-controlled wholesale markets, or mandis. They are also demanding that the government fulfil its promise of doubling farmers' income.

On Monday, federal ministers held a six-hour meeting with farm union leaders. The two sides reportedly came to an agreement on some of the demands, including the withdrawal of cases registered against protesters during the 2020 protests.

However there was no consensus on the MSP. In 2021, after the farm laws were repealed, the government said it would set up a panel to find ways to ensure support prices for all farm produce. However, the committee is yet to submit its report.

More than 200 farmer unions are participating in the march. "We will move peacefully and our objective is that the government listens to our demands," Sarvan Singh Pandher, general secretary of the Punjab Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee, told ANI news agency.

Farmers and trade unions have also announced a rural strike on 16 February during which no agricultural activities will be carried out. Shops, markets and offices in all villages will be closed while farmers will block major roads across the country.

/KN/