Indian security forces fired tear gas at protesting farmers for a second day on Wednesday to stop tens of thousands from marching to the capital New Delhi to demand higher prices for their produce.
Travelling on trucks and trolleys loaded with food, bedding and other supplies, the farmers began their “Delhi Chalo” (Let’s go to Delhi) march on Tuesday morning after talks with the government failed to yield a commitment on minimum prices for a range of crops.
They were stopped by security forces at the Shambhu border that divides Punjab and Haryana – the northern states to which most of them belong – almost 200 km (125 miles) from their destination.
Security forces also used drones to drop tear gas canisters on farmers who, in response, released kites into the sky in the hope of entangling the machines.
A similar year-long protest in 2021 by farmers, a powerful voting bloc, had pushed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government to repeal some farm laws and promise to find ways to ensure support prices for all farm produce.
Farmers say the government has been slow on fulfilling the latter promise.
The latest protests come with the country months away from a national election in which Modi will seek a third term.
The government has appealed to farmers to come forward to discuss their demands, with Agriculture Minister Arjun Munda saying that efforts will continue to speak to them “in a constructive and positive manner”.
However, an influential farmers’ union linked with Modi’s party on Wednesday rejected demands raised by the protesting farmers.
