Police personnel clash with farmers protesting at Delhi-UP border during 'Kisan Kranti Padyatra' in New Delhi, Tuesday, Oct 2, 2018. (PTI Photo)
Thousands of farmers from neighbouring Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand who planned to hold a mega rally in the central Delhi were stopped on the outskirts of the national capital on Tuesday. Barricades were put up at UP border to stop the farmers from entering the national capital.
The peaceful protest soon turned violent when farmers tried to break open the barricading forcing the police to use teargas shells, water canon and mild force. Seven policemen, including an assistant commissioner of police, were injured.
As per latest information, Rapid Action Force (RAF) has arrived at the Delhi-UP border where the farmers are camping. Schools in Ghaziabad have been asked to remain close on Wednesday.
Here's what happened throughout the day
The protest call has been given by the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) over demands ranging from farm loan waiver to cut in fuel prices.
Farmers refuse to relent
Earlier in the day, Home Minister Rajnath held discussions with Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh and a few others on how to resolve the farmers' issues and pacify them.
The home minister also spoke to chief of BKU Rakesh Tikait over phone and conveyed the government's keenness to address their demands.
In Pics: Thousands of farmers march towards Delhi; police use water cannons, tear gas
After meeting the protesting farmers at the Delhi-UP border, Union Minister of State for Agriculture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said the government was assuring the farmers to take forward their cause.
"I assure you all this. We will move court over the NGT order (to ban tractor and vehicles which are more than 10 years old)," he said.
Protesting farmers clash with police and UP border on Oct 2. (PTI Photo)
"On behalf of (Union Home Minister) Rajnath Singh, I assure you that I will represent the farmers' interests in this committee and whatever changes would be required to link MNREGA with agriculture will be made," Shekhawat told the farmers.
Naresh Tikait, the chief of Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU), which has given the protest call, said the farmers are "not satisfied" with the government's assurance.
"We will discuss this and then decide on future course of action. I cannot decide anything alone, our committee will take the decision," Tikait said.
'Badshah of Delhi Sultanate was drunk with power'
Slamming the Centre over use of 'brutal force', the Opposition led by the Congress accused the BJP government being 'anti-farmer'.
Congress president Rahul Gandhi took a dig at the Modi government over the protests.
"On International Day of Non-Violence, the BJP's two-year Gandhi Jayanti celebrations began with the brutal beating of farmers peacefully coming to Delhi. Now, the farmers cannot even air the grievances coming to the capital!" he tweeted in Hindi.
Condemning the police action, Congress spokesman Randeep Singh Surjewala said if the Centre can write off huge debt of a few industrialists why it could not waive the loans of farmers.
Kisan Kranti Padyatra leads to violent clashes between farmers, police: Who said what
Criticising Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he alleged that "arrogance has gone to his head".
"Instead of hearing them out, farmers are brutalised and beaten up. The Baadshah in the Delhi Sultanate is drunk with power," the Congress leader said.
WATCH: Deadlock continues as farmers refuse to end their protest despite Govt's assurance
