Police officials in India have shot teargas at demonstrating farmers who have resumed their march in the capital city of Delhi after four rounds of talks with the federal government failed to terminate the deadlock.
The farmers, who are clamouring for an assured prices for their crops, say they are ready with months of supplies.
Delhi’s borders have been strengthened with several layers of barricades and barbed wires to bar their entry.
But protesters have warned that they would use heavy machinery to push through.
Farmers had used masks, gloves and safety suits to shield themselves from the tear gas shelling.
Police in Haryana directed their counterparts in Punjab to stop women, children and journalists at least 1km away from the Delhi borders for their safety.
They also asked the Punjab police to confiscate bulldozers and other heavy machinery from the protesting sites.
In Delhi, security was was tightened and large gatherings have been banned for at least a month.
Meanwhile, the farmers’ leaders have said that their march is peaceful and have encouraged the government to let them enter the capital.
The latest round of protests is coming months before the general elections in which Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) clinched a third term in power.
The farmers association form an important voting bloc in India and and analysts say the administration is not eager to annoy or alienate them.
So far, the government has held four rounds of meetings with farmers’ unions and a headway is yet to be made.
Protesters have said that the government did not keep to the promises it made during the 2020-21 protest, and they have also added new demands to their list (a pensions and a debt waiver).
