It seems that the Centre is ready for talks as thousands of farmers from Punjab marched into Delhi against the three Central farm laws, on 27 November.

Although the Centre hasn't formally commented, or reached out to farmer organisations, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal tweeted, “The central government is always ready for talks.”

After a few tense days at the Delhi-NCR border, the Delhi police spokesperson Aish Singhal announced in the late afternoon of 27 November that the protesting farmers will be allowed to hold their protest at the Nirankari Samagam Ground in North-West Delhi.

In the past couple of days, over 30 farmer bodies including several thousands of women have been attempting to stream into Delhi through different routes with their trucks and trolleys carrying rations and other essentials determined to hold the protest for as long as it takes to get the government's attention. They have demanded for the three new farm laws to be scrapped and MSP be legalised.

But before the farmers were let in, barricades, barbed wires, water cannon and tear gas shells were used to deter them from entering the capital. From Tikri to Singhu to Faridabad to Kalindi Kunj — all borders were sealed off.

Hundreds of police personnel from the RAF, CRPF and the Delhi Police were deployed and what was supposed to be a peaceful march to the capital got violent in the outskirts of Delhi as water cannons and tear gas shells were countered with stone pelting.

As the farmers carry on with their protest, in this podcast we'll bring you farmer voices from ground zero. Tune in!

Producer and Host: Shorbori Purkayastha
Guests:
Shadab Moizee, Correspondent Reporter, Quint Hindi
Sanjay Pugalia, Editorial Director, The Quint

Editor: Shelly Walia

Music: Big Bang Fuzz

Listen to The Big Story podcast on:

Apple: https://apple.co/2AYdLIl

Saavn: http://bit.ly/2oix78C

Google Podcasts: http://bit.ly/2ntMV7S

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2IyLAUQ

Deezer: http://bit.ly/2Vrf5Ng