"farmers-protest"

Meanwhile, BSP supremo Mayawati and Congress leader Digvijaya Singh urged the Centre to reconsider the "anti-farmer" laws.

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has termed Amit Shah's offer to hold discussions at the earliest as the best in the interest of the farming community and the nation at large.

Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said that the Central government is committed for the prosperity of farmers and said "gumrahi gang" is trying to mislead them.

Massive traffic jams were also reported from Singhu border, Tikri border and Delhi-Gurugram border because of the protest.

The prime minister who is concerned about 'one nation, one election', should also implement "one nation, one treatment", the Congress general secretary in-charge Uttar Pradesh said.

Earlier, the Delhi Police had sought permission from the AAP government to use the city's nine stadiums as temporary jails for the agitating farmers.

Situation was tense at the border points as Delhi Police made repeated announcements on loudspeakers asking the farmers to retreat.

Farmers' bodies said they will hold a dharna wherever they are stopped from moving towards the national capital.

The Haryana government on Thursday completely sealed its borders with Punjab.

The situation remained tense at the Shambu inter-state border on the national highway as protesting farmers threw police barricades into the Ghaggar river.

The farmers protesting against the Centre's farm laws are assembling near Haryana borders with tractor-trolleys carrying ration and essentials for their proposed Delhi march.  

Punjab farmers' bodies also lashed out at the Centre for suspending goods trains in the state that has affected supply of coal, fertiliser and other essential items.

Ryots performed'Ravana Dahan' using the effigies of PM Narendra Modi and industrialists Mukesh Ambani and Gautam Adani on the occasion of Dasara