Farmers swarm Delhi-UP border; police use water cannons, tear gas

Chaos prevailed at the Delhi-UP border Tuesday as thousands of protesting farmers attempted to enter the national capital, prompting the police to resort to water cannons and tear-gas shells to disperse them, evoking a sharp criticism from opposition parties.

Seeking to convince the farmers to move back from their protest, the government announced that a committee of chief ministers will look into their demands, but the protesters stayed put saying they were not "satisfied" with the assurance.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh held discussions with Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh and a few others to discuss the farmers' issue, after which Union minister of state for agriculture Rajendra Singh Shekhawat met the protesters to assure them that their demands will be looked into.

Naresh Tikait, the chief of Bharat Kisan Union (BKU), which has given the protest call, however, said the farmers are "not satisfied" with the government's assurance.

"We will discuss this and then decide ..