The government has appealed to farmers to come forward to discuss their demands, with Agriculture Minister Arjun Munda saying that efforts will continue to speak to them “in a constructive and positive manner”.
However, an influential farmers’ union linked with Modi’s party on Wednesday rejected demands raised by the protesting farmers.
The leader of Bharatiya Kisan Sangh (BKS) or the Indian Farmers’ Group, said the protests were masterminded by opposition political parties with the aim of fracturing Modi’s agrarian reforms.
“Protesting farmer groups do not represent concerns of all farmers, their views are limited to regional agrarian practices,” said Mohini Mohan Mishra, general secretary of BKS.
TIME FOR TEA
A rare moment of respite in the protest came in the afternoon when farmers moved back to their vehicles for lunch, lining up to be served. In some places, farmers and police stood side-by-side, warming themselves with cups of tea against a backdrop of rows of barricades.
Traffic was disrupted across Delhi’s border regions. On Grand Trunk Road, which connects Delhi to Punjab via Haryana, vehicles were redirected for the last 20 km (12 miles) through side roads.
The opposite carriageway, carrying commuters to Delhi, remained deserted, with traffic movement prohibited along its entire 150 km Haryana stretch.
Haryana has also suspended mobile internet services, bulk messaging, and dongle services in several parts until Thursday night.