NEW DELHI, Nov 27 (Reuters) - Thousands of protesting Indian
farmers scuffled with police on Friday during a march to the
capital, Delhi, against new laws liberalising procurement that
they say will leave them vulnerable to big companies.
Police fired several rounds of tear gas at some places on
the outskirts of Delhi and used water cannons at entry points to
stop the farmers coming into the city centre.
Television 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.
"Although the police have tried to stop us with force,
barricades and water cannons, we've decided to stay the course
to make sure the government listens to the voice of millions of
farmers," said protesting farmer Sukrampal Dhayana.
Under the laws enacted in September that Prime Minister
Narendra Modi called a watershed for agriculture, farmers are
free to sell their produce anywhere, including to big corporate
buyers, instead of at government-regulated wholesale markets
where farmers are assured of a minimum procurement price.
Many farmer organisations oppose the new law, saying it
would leave small growers with little bargaining power. They
also say they fear the government will eventually withdraw price
support for wheat and rice.
The government says there is no plan to eliminate the
wholesale markets.
The new law was aimed at making the vast agriculture sector
more efficient by freeing up farmers who want to sell directly
to big retailers such as Walmart.
Suburban train services into Delhi were suspended, the Delhi
Metro said in a post on Twitter, in a bid to stop the protesters
from riding the trains.
(Writing by Sanjeev Miglani
Editing by Robert Birsel)