Indian police fire tear gas into crowds of protesting farmers

Indian police fired tear gas to scatter thousands of protesting farmers as they resumed their march on Delhi after rejecting a government offer on prices for their produce.

Fleeing the stinging gas and clouds of smoke, the farmers, some wearing medical masks, ran into the fields surrounding their gathering-point on a highway about 125 miles north of New Delhi.

The police action came as the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a new offer to resume talks on the farmers' demands. Agriculture Minister Arjun Munda urged the farmers to resolve their grievances through the talks.

"After the fourth round, the government is ready to discuss all the issues" such as guaranteed prices for the farmers' crops, he posted on Twitter, as the march resumed. "I again invite the farmer leaders for discussion. It is important for us to maintain peace."

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