Farmers pause Delhi March after Cops use tear gas, water cannon  

Farmers have suspended their march to Delhi after over 17 of them sustained injuries following police action at the Shambhu border between Haryana and Punjab. They will announce their next course of action after an internal meeting.

A group of 101 farmers resumed their 'Delhi chalo' foot march at noon, pressing the government for the fulfillment of their demands, including a legal guarantee for the Minimum Support Price (MSP).

Congress leader and wrestler, Bajrang Punia, joined the farmers at the Shambhu border. "On one hand the government is saying that we are not stopping the farmers, but on the other hand, they are using tear gas and other things. It is being treated as if it is the Pakistan border. When leaders go to Delhi to protest, do they take permission?" he said.

It is the third attempt by the protesting farmers to march towards the national capital since December 6. They were earlier not allowed to proceed by security personnel in Haryana on December 6 and December 8.

Ahead of their planned march today, the Haryana government suspended mobile internet and bulk SMS services in 12 villages of Ambala till December 17 to prevent the spread of misinformation. The farmers' agitation, which began on February 13 at the Shambhu and Khanauri borders between Punjab and Haryana, is rooted in demands including a legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price (MSP) on crops.

On the sidelines, farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal has been on a fast-unto-death at the Khanauri border for 19 days now. The Supreme Court bench of Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan has directed the Centre and Punjab government representatives to meet Dallewal and persuade him to break his fast.