Thousands of farmers have entered the capital New Delhi for a planned protest against new farm laws, hours after the police fired several rounds of tear gas and used water cannon to stop the Dilli Chalo (Go to Delhi) march.
Protesting Indian farmers scuffled with police earlier on Friday during the march to the capital, against new laws, which will make it easier for farmers to sell their produce directly to private buyers and enter into a contract with private companies.
But farmers demand the bills, passed by India’s parliament in September, be scrapped fearing the laws will leave them vulnerable to big corporates.
A Delhi Police spokesperson confirmed to Al Jazeera the farmers have been given permission to enter the national capital and hold a peaceful protest at the Nirankari Samagam Ground in the Burari area.
“The farmers have been granted permission to enter Delhi. They can protest peacefully in a ground in Burari area” Anil Mittal, Additional PRO (Delhi Police), told media.
However, farmers from several states and trade unions, who wanted to stage protest in the Ramlila ground in the heart of the city, have yet to comment if they would agree to the new venue.
Television footage showed plumes of smoke and some people throwing stones at police as thousands pressed against barricades, waving flags and sticks. Some rode tractors near the barriers.
Farmers vs Haryana Police
The protesters are led by the All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee (AIKSCC), a group of 31 farmer unions.
Beginning Wednesday, they started gathering at more than half-a-dozen points on the border between Haryana and Punjab.
As the farmers forced their way into Haryana Thursday afternoon, dramatic scenes were reported from the Shambhu barrier bridge on the border passing through Ambala. Thousands of farmers unchained metal road barriers put up by the police, and threw them into the Ghaggar river.
At the Khanauri border between Patiala and Jind, farmers who had spent the night on the spot encountered water cannons and tear gas shells as they moved into Haryana. The farmers used ropes and chains to remove the cement boulders placed on the roads as barricades.
In Karnal, the constituency of Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, the police tried to stop the farmers with water cannons and tear gas shells, but the barricades were broken down here too. Similar reports have come in from other entry points as well.
The police barricading at various entry points on the Haryana-Punjab border lead to massive traffic jams through the day. Traffic congestion was also reported from the Delhi-Haryana border and the capital’s border with UP’s Noida as police checked every vehicle on the road. Punjab, Haryana and Delhi police had all issued advisories since Wednesday, asking people to avoid trips through the borders, unless it is urgent.