Hundreds of farmers from Punjab were felicitously blocked by the police of Haryana on Tuesday in a procession to Delhi for holding a Kisan Mahapanchayat protesting against the plans of the India-US trade agreement.
The Punjab-Haryana border was also heavily fortified with concrete blocks, iron spikes and security barricades to keep the farmers away from the capital when officers had set up multi-layered barricades at the crossing, recreating the scenarios from the agitation in Delhi in 2024.
The protesting farmers boycotted the entry and took a demonstration at the Shambhu border, alleging denial of democratic protestors’ right to peaceful protest in Delhi by the Haryana and Punjab governments.
BKU Shaheed Bhagat Singh leader Tezveer Singh had stated that Haryana Police had set barricades inside Punjab’s land and the Punjab government had not protested against it. Farmers from Ambala, Kurukshetra and the surrounding districts from Haryana continued their march towards Delhi while Punjab farmers were stopped.
Amidst the touted India-US trade agreement, the Kisan Mahapanchayat, which was organised under the banner of Desh Bachao Morcha, has come together with farmer organisations from other states of Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh to protest against the proposed trade deal.
He said convoys of various groups like KMSC, Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (Punjab unit), Azaad Kisan Morcha, and BKU Ekta Sangharsh had set off from various areas of Punjab and were stopped at the border.
Farmer leaders have reiterated their demand that the Centre cancel the proposed trade agreement, saying it might have a negative effect on the agriculture sector in India.