Protesting farmers in India clash with police as anger over market reforms rise

Thousands of Indian farmers scuffled with police on Friday as they tried to march to the capital, Delhi, in protest against new laws that they say will leave them vulnerable to big companies.

Police fired tear gas at some places on the outskirts of Delhi and used water cannons at entry points to stop people coming into the city centre from the farming-heavy state of Punjab.

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 organizations representing farmers 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.

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