States turn fortresses ahead of farmers' march to Capital

Thousands of paramilitary and police personnel in riot gear behind multiple layers of metal barriers with barbed wires and spikes guarded the state borders to halt the proposed "Dilli Chalo" march of cultivators to the Capital on Tuesday, even as farmer leaders were detained in Madhya Pradesh to stop them from joining the agitation.

- Bhavey Nagpal, Sunil Rahar and Shruti Tomar

Protracted talks between Union ministers Piyush Goyal, Arjun Munda and Nityanand Rai, Punjab minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal and protesting farmers ended in an impasse on Monday night, with spokespersons of farmers organisations confirming the march will continue. Farmers will now head for Delhi from their respective states at 10am on Tuesday, protesters said after the meeting, which ended after 11pm on Monday.

Different farm bodies called for the march demanding a national law on minimum support prices (the price at which the government buys foodgrain from farmers), withdrawal of all cases registered during 2020-21 farmers' protest around Delhi and a monthly pension of 10,000 for farmers above 60 years of age. At least 15 farmer unions are participating in the march. Some other farmer collectives have called for a Bharat Bandh on February 16.