Farmers' protest highlights: Internet suspended in 7 Haryana districts till Friday

Police fire tear gas to disperse farmers during their 'Delhi Chalo' march, near the Punjab-Haryana Shambhu border.

Farmers' Protest highlights: Farmers from across multiple states have resumed the ‘Delhi Chalo’ march on Wednesday. Meanwhile, heavy security is deployed across the national capital to prevent any disturbances during the protest. Farmer leaders from Punjab and Haryana previously halted the farmers' protest on Sunday evening after the fourth round of talks with Union Ministers. The leaders had warned earlier that they will resume their march to Delhi if their demands are not met by the Centre by February 21.

Farmer leaders taking part in agitation on Monday rejected the Centre's proposal of procuring pulses, maize and cotton at MSP by government agencies for five years, saying it was not in farmers' interest and announced that they will march towards the national capital on Wednesday.

As the farmers gear up to continue their protests today, the government has estimated that nearly 14,000 people have gathered along the Punjab-Haryana border with 1,200 tractor-trolleys, 300 cars, 10 mini-buses as well as small vehicles as part of the farmers protest. The Centre also condemned the Punjab government for allowing this potential lapse in the law and order situation in the state.

Farmers protests key highlights -

1. Farmer leaders from three states - Haryana, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh - started protesting against the government, asserting the legal guarantee for MSP.
2. Four round of talks have been conducted till now, with no middle ground achieved between the farmers and the central government.
3. After the fourth round of talks with the Union ministers, farmers decided to halt their protest till February 21, posing a condition that the march will be resumed if their demands are not met.
4. Authorities have thrown up barricades to keep protesters at a distance of nearly 200 km (125 miles) from New Delhi for more than a week, but police said the heavy machinery at Wednesday's gathering was intended for use in damaging them.
5. As many as 14,000 people have gathered at the Delhi-Haryana and Haryana-Punjab borders, with thousands of vehicles in a show of strength for the farmers.