NEW DELHI – A rally attended by a large number of agitated farmers turnedinto a battlefield at Singhu and Ghazipur borders of New Delhi as policeused tear gas to disrupt protesters on the Republic Day.

As per the schedule, the agitating farmers marched on tractors and on footfrom the outskirts of the capital.

Police in a bid to stop the protesters, blocked several routes and as thefarmers decided to enter the capital, the police launched baton charge andfired tear gas.

At least 40,000 police and paramilitary personnel have been deployed nearthe three borders to stop farmers from entering the central and New Delhiareas.

Earlier, authorities had agreed to let farmers stage rally as long as theywaited for the military parade to finish.

Multiple rounds of negotiations between the government and the farmers’unions have failed over the months. They have demanded the governmentrepeal the laws, but the BJP-led government seems adamant to approve any ofthe demands.