NEW DELHI: As the stalemate over the Centre’s controversial agricultural laws persists, thousands of protesting farmers from Delhi's neighbouring states are set to take out a protest march today to block the Delhi-Jaipur highway.

The will be the second attempt by farmers to block the crucial interstate highway after their proposed blockade failed yesterday.

Thousands of farmers protesting at various border points of Delhi for over two weeks against the new farm laws had earlier this week vowed to intensify their agitation by blocking major highways linking the national capital.

Today's march will be followed by a hunger strike on December 14, when the protesters have called for a nationwide protest.

This morning farmers began gathering in Rajasthan's Shahjahanpur district, which is around 120 km from Delhi. Visuals showed farmers carrying placards and shouting slogans as they walked slowly downc the highway. Tractors pulling tarpaulin-covered trailers, and flanked by cars with banners waved out of the windows, were also seen.

Swaraj India chief Yogendra Yadav and activist Medha Patkar were seen with a group of farmers near Shahjahanpur, holding up a large banner that read: "Dilli chalo, Dilli chalo, Samyukt Kisan Morcha".

As protests escalate, a group of 29 farmer leaders from Haryana met Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Saturday to show support for the farm laws. "We will also protest if the government repeals the laws. We have given a memorandum to all districts," Bharatiya Kisan Union (Mann) leader Guni Prakash told reporters after the meeting.

On Sunday Prime Minister Narendra Modi said: "We've taking all these initiatives to increase the farmers' income and make them more prosperous. Reforms will help draw investment in agriculture and benefit farmers."

A breakthrough in talks with the farmers is likely in the next 48 hours, Haryana Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala, a BJP ally, said Saturday in a surprising claim. "I'm hopeful that there will be talks between the centre and the farmers will be fruitful. I'm hopeful that in the next 24 to 48 hours, there will be a final round of talks and the two sides will reach a conclusive solution," he was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

The Supreme Court on Wednesday will hear three petitions related to the farmers' protest. One of the petitions - filed by a student from Delhi - says the protests are blocking emergency health services needed to tackle the coronavirus pandemic. The second is linked to the use of force on farmers and seeks compensation for them, while the third says the protesters should be allowed to enter Delhi.

Earlier this week, the protesters unanimously rejected the centre's written offer of amendments in farm laws, and announced a series of plans to escalate their protest. A meeting with Amit Shah also failed to resolve the deadlock.

Farmers say they want nothing less than the new laws to be scrapped. A petition was filed on Friday in the Supreme Court by the Bharatiya Kisan Union that sought repeal them. The top court has already issued notices to the centre on a batch of petitions challenging the laws.

Thousands of farmers, who fought past tear gassing, water cannoning and lathi charges by police in Delhi and Haryana to reach Delhi, have been camping on the outskirts of Delhi for nearly 20 straight days. They say the farm laws will leave them at the mercy of corporates even as the government repeatedly assured the legislations bring much-needed reforms. Opposition leaders have backed the farmers' protest and have urged the government to rethink the legislations.