Farmers Protest highlights: Police drop tear gas via drones, get countered by kites

Taking notice of the ongoing protest by the farmers on Shambhu and Khanouri borders, along Haryana, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Wednesday announced to suspend the tomorrow’s round of Punjab Bachao Yatra scheduled in Ferozpur and Faridkot districts.

Farmers Protest LIVE Updates: At the Tikri border, the Delhi Police installed an iron platform under the metro line to install loudspeakers and mast lights. Police said more than 12 CCTVs have also been installed on the platform for surveillance in case the farmers cross the barricades.

Farmers Protest LIVE Updates: All gates are now open for entry/exit, updated Delhi Metro Rail Corporation.

Farmers Protest LIVE Updates: Earlier, on Tuesday night, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi talked with injured farmers over phone. In a social media post, he said, "Talked on phone to former soldier Gurmeet Singh ji, who was seriously injured in police atrocities during the farmers' movement."

"Equired about his health and expressed support to him for their peaceful movement demanding their rights," the former Congress chief said.

Read in detail: Rahul Gandhi phones farmers

Farmers Protest LIVE Updates: The Shiromani Akali Dal has announced the convening of a meeting of the party's core committee, the top decision-making body. This decision comes in the wake of protests by farm bodies that have planned the 'Delhi Chalo' yatra, presently held up at Shambu and Khanouri borders.

Farmers Protest LIVE Updates: "In 2011, Narendra Modi, as Gujarat chief minister and chairman of a working group, had submitted a report to the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, which said that 'In order to protect the interest of the farmers, we must ensure through legal provisions that no transaction between farmer and trader should be done below MSP'," Congress communication in-charge Jairam Ramesh said in an X post.

"But till date, there is neither legal guarantee of MSP nor is it based on the Swaminathan formula of C2 50%," he added..

Farmers Protest LIVE Updates: Amidst the ongoing farmers' protest in Delhi, Union Agriculture Minister Arjun Munda on Wednesday said that efforts to engage in constructive dialogue with the farmers' union persist.

The minister also expressed readiness to hold discussions considering all viewpoints and appealed for a conducive environment for dialogue.

"I had already said that our efforts to hold positive discussions with the farmers' union will continue. Farmers' organizations must understand that the decision on the law that is being talked about cannot be taken in such a way that people criticize the situation without thinking and understanding in the coming days. Rather, we should try to keep in mind all the aspects of it and discuss it," he said.

Farmers Protest LIVE Updates: "The report on MSP came in 2004 when Congress was in power. Why didn't they do anything in 10 years?... The farmers want to go to Delhi and have a conversation with representatives of the Govt but when they came to Chandigarh, the farmer leaders refused to talk to them. I am surprised that the Punjab Govt has released a notice asking us not to send drones to our border.... When farmers started moving from Amritsar, they did not even try to stop them. This clearly means that they want the farmers to create terror in Delhi. Stone pelting is going on and one of our DSP & 25 other police officers are injured in this..." says Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij.

Punjab Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee General Secretary Sarwan Singh Pandher on Wednesday requested the government to stop using tear gas and other forces against the protesting farmers and create a cordial atmosphere.

He alleged that the police used self-loading rifle (SLR) with plastic and rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse the farmers who were marching to the national capital on Tuesday.

"Police used SLR bullets, tear gas, plastic and rubber bullets to disperse our farmers. These kinds of actions are not acceptable. The way they are making our perception in the media is not right. They are putting the tag of Khalistani, calling us the supporter of Congress and Punjab government, which is not correct," Pandher said while addressing the media.

Farmers Protest LIVE Updates: Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher on Wednesday said the tillers will consider any invitation for talks from the Centre over their demands but it should ensure a positive atmosphere for dialogue.

He also appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to enact a law to guarantee the minimum support price (MSP).

"It is said that you (Modi) have a big heart. Give us a law to guarantee the MSP," Pandher said.

When asked whether farmers have received any invitation for holding talks, he said it was being said that the Centre was inviting farmers for a dialogue.

Farmers Protest LIVE Updates: In view of the farmer's protest, Haryana farm leader Gurnam Singh Charuni has called a meeting of the office bearers of his union to discuss the prevailing situation on Thursday. In a video message, the leader criticised the action by Haryana authorities on the protesting farmers.

Farmers Protest LIVE Updates: The Singhu border has been shut for vehicular traffic for second consecutive day in a row.

Farmers Protest LIVE Updates: Speaking to reporters at the Sonipat border, Commissioner Satheesh Balan said, "We are confident that farmers won't be able to cross the Sonipat border". Heavy security is deployed at borders of Delhi following the ‘Delhi chalo’ call by farmer unions.

"Majority of the arrangements have been made by the Delhi Police. (Meanwhile), we would try to stop them (farmers) at the Panipat-Sonipat border. We have put up our barricades there. Here we will play the complementary role to the Delhi Police," he said.

Farmers Protest LIVE Updates: "We condemn govt action to stop farmers from entering Delhi to have a peaceful protest... Every day in the BJP, the central govt and the Madhya Pradesh government advertisement we see the 'Modi Ki Guarantee'... Yes, Modi's guarantee was there, they (the central govt) held meetings with farmers in which it was decided that a law over MSP would be made, the cases over farmers would be withdrawn, and action would be taken against the minister in Lakhimpur Kheri incident... But, the irony is that PM Modi has chosen the Corporate Minister (Piyush Goyal) to communicate with the farmers, he represents the corporate world and the corporate's interest lies in the exploitation of the farmers...", said Congress leader Digvijaya Singh.

Farmers Protest LIVE Updates: Opposition leaders criticised the government's response to the farmers marching to Delhi, demanding guaranteed crop prices in a repeat of the 2021 protests. Police fired tear gas at hundreds of farmers who tried to break barricades at the Shambhu border near Ambala blocking their way to New Delhi. Read here

Farmers Protest LIVE Updates: Security arrangements to prevent a march of farmers to the Capital remained in place on Wednesday a day after thousands of protesters faced off with security personnel as they tried to cross layers of barricading at the Shambhu border between Haryana and Punjab. The protesters late on Tuesday night vowed to resume the march on Wednesday morning hours after at least 110 of them were injured in clashes with security forces, who used tear gas shells and water cannons. Dig Deeper

Farmers Protest LIVE Updates: Day after farmers began their ‘Chalo Delhi’ protest, Delhi Police issued a fresh traffic advisory on Wednesday. The farmers' march towards Delhi on Tuesday encountered turmoil at the Punjab-Haryana border, with protesters confronting tear gas shells, water cannons, and police baton charges at two locations. The clashes ensued as demonstrators tried to breach multiple layers of barricades erected by the police to block their path towards the national capital. Read More

Farmers Protest LIVE Updates: "The government should seriously consider the demands of the hardworking farmers who have made our India self-sufficient in terms of food, and should resolve them appropriately and timely with empathy so that the food-providing farmers do not have to be forced to protest again and again in support of their demands," the BSP supremo said in a post on 'X'.

Farmers Protest LIVE Updates: Traffic was affected in the border areas of Delhi on Wednesday as police erected several layers of barricades and stopped the movement of vehicles at the Singhu and Tikri borders in view of farmers' proposed march to Delhi.

While Singhu and Tikri borders with Haryana have been entirely closed for traffic, vehicular movement is still allowed at the Ghazipur border in a regulated manner.

A section of a road in a village near the Singhu border was dug up to prevent the farmers' march to Delhi.

Apsara and Ghazipur borders with Uttar Pradesh are open for traffic but there is a heavy security deployment at both.

Farmers Protest LIVE Updates: "The BJP has always supported the farmers. Our governments have worked for them. While former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee started the Kisan Credit Card, PM Modi after taking the oath launched the Kisan Samman Nidhi for the farmers," says MoS Ajay Teni speaking about farmers' protest.

Farmers Protest LIVE Updates: “There is an attempt to make a perception about us. We have not come here for confrontation with the government,” farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher said while speaking at Shambhu border.