Indian forces fire tear gas on farmers in row over price cuts
INDIAN police fired tear gas to scatter thousands of protesting farmers as they resumed their march on New Delhi after rejecting a government offer on prices for their produce.
Fleeing the stinging gas and clouds of smoke, the farmers, some wearing medical masks, ran into the fields surrounding their gathering point on a highway about 125 miles north of the capital.
The police action came as the government of Narendra Modi, the prime minister, made a new offer to resume talks on the farmers’ demands.
Arjun Munda, the agriculture minister, urged the protesters to resolve their grievances through negotiation.
“After the fourth round, the government is ready to discuss all the issues” such as guaranteed prices for the farmers’ crops, he posted on Twitter, as the march resumed. “I again invite the farmer leaders for discussion. It is important for us to maintain peace.”
Farmers’ leaders went into a huddle to discuss yesterday’s offer after the police action brought the march to a halt, local media reported.
Police and district officials were at the site, mediating between the leaders and the government, The Indian Express newspaper reported.
On Monday, farmers’ groups rejected the government’s proposal for five-year contracts and guaranteed support prices for produce such as corn.
The farmers, mostly from Punjab in the north, have been demanding higher prices backed by law for their crops.
They form an influential bloc of voters that Mr Modi cannot afford to anger ahead of general elections due by May. About 10,000 people had gathered yesterday, along with 1,200 tractors and wagons at the village of Shambhu near the border with Punjab.
‘I again invite the farmer leaders for discussion. It is important for us to maintain peace’