India: Police fire tear gas as farmers resume march to Delhi

Police fired tear gas on Wednesday at thousands of Indian farmers attempting to march to the capital, New Delhi, with cranes and excavators after failing to reach a deal with the government on crop prices.

Since last week, authorities have kept the farmers — mostly from the northern state of Punjab — at bay by erecting barricades at a highway near the village of Shambhu, about 200 kilometers (124 miles) from Delhi.

"The government is ready to discuss all the issues," Agriculture Minister Arjun Munda posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. "I again invite the farmer leaders for discussion. It is important for us to maintain peace," he wrote.

At the heart of protests is a demand for legislation that will guarantee minimum prices for all crops. The government currently protects agricultural producers against any sharp fall in farm prices for certain essential crops. Farmers are demanding for this to be extended to all farm produce.

Farmers resume protests after talks fail

The demonstrators, mostly small farmers, put their protest on hold last week amid talks between government ministers and unions. However, several rounds of negotiations have failed to reach a breakthrough.

Earlier in the week, farmers' groups rejected a government proposal for five-year contracts and guaranteed support prices for produce such as corn, cotton and pulses that the government purchases.

Farmers stare down riot police 

Police in riot gear lined both sides of the highway on the border of Punjab state and Haryana on Wednesday, where metal spikes and concrete barricades had been set up.

About 10,000 people had gathered at the site, along with some 1,200 tractors and wagons, police in Haryana said.

Television images showed some farmers wearing face masks to protect themselves from the tear gas.

"It is not right that such massive barricades have been placed to stop us," news agency Reuters quoted one of the farmers' leaders, Jagjit Singh Dallewal, as saying.

"We want to march to Delhi peacefully. If not, they should accede to our demands."

A reported death sparks fear

Despite the calls for peace, a 21-year-old man died amid clashes between farmers and police, according to the Press Trust of India news agency.  

A medical superintendent at a hospital in nearby Punjab state said the young man died due to a head injury. The Haryana Police, in a post on X, described the reported death as a "rumor."

Indian authorities are determined to control the new demonstrations to avoid a repeat of 2021 protests, in which tens of thousands of farmers camped outside the capital for over a year.

Dozens died and the protest was called off after the Modi government repealed a set of agricultural laws.

What do India's farmers want?

Farmer unions are demanding a law to set a minimum price on all crops, scaling up a government scheme that already exists for essential crops like rice and wheat.

They also demand other concessions, including debt relief and universal pensions for farmers aged 60 and above.

The protests come as India prepares for general elections in May. The farmers make up an influential voting bloc and are particularly important for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.

rm, dvv/nm (AFP, Reuters)