Why Punjab Farmers Stopped at Shambhu Border ?
Hundreds of farmers from Punjab were stopped by Haryana Police at the Shambhu border on Tuesday while travelling to Delhi to attend a Kisan Mahapanchayat against the proposed India-US trade agreement. Heavy barricades were placed at the Punjab-Haryana border, preventing the farmers from entering Haryana. Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
The security arrangements reminded many of the 2024 “Delhi Chalo-2” farmers’ protest, when concrete blocks, iron spikes and several layers of barricades were used to stop farmers from reaching the national capital.
After being denied entry, the farmers began a protest at the Shambhu border. They accused both the Haryana and Punjab governments of stopping their democratic right to gather peacefully in Delhi.
BKU Shaheed Bhagat Singh leader Tezveer Singh claimed that Haryana Police had placed barricades inside Punjab’s territory. He also criticised the Punjab government, saying it remained silent instead of opposing the action.
While farmers from Punjab were stopped at the border, groups from Haryana, including Ambala, Kurukshetra and nearby districts, continued their journey to Delhi without interruption.
The Kisan Mahapanchayat was organised under the banner of the Desh Bachao Morcha, bringing together farmer organisations from Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh. The groups are demanding that the Central Government withdraw the proposed India-US trade agreement, warning that it could seriously affect Indian agriculture and rural livelihoods.
Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee (KMSC) leader Sarwan Singh Pandher said convoys from KMSC, Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (Punjab chapter), Azaad Kisan Morcha and BKU Ekta Sangharsh had left different parts of Punjab before being stopped at the Shambhu border. He said the planned agreement goes beyond a normal trade deal and could include agriculture, dairy, industry, digital trade, e-commerce, investment, government procurement, intellectual property rights and services.
Farmer leaders said previous US trade reports have pushed for easier access to India’s agriculture and dairy markets by seeking lower tariffs and fewer restrictions on products such as soybeans, maize, cotton, ethanol, apples, almonds, dairy products, poultry and fisheries.
They warned that cheaper, heavily subsidised American farm and dairy products could make it difficult for millions of small and marginal Indian farmers to compete. They also raised concerns that the government has not made the details of the proposed agreement public.
The organisations said India’s dairy industry supports nearly 80 million rural families. They warned that any negative impact on the sector would also affect small traders, food processing businesses, agri-based industries and millions of rural jobs.
The Desh Bachao Morcha has demanded that the Central Government make all documents related to the proposed India-US trade agreement public before signing any deal. Farmer leaders also called for detailed discussions with farmers, dairy producers, workers, small traders and other stakeholders before any final decision is taken.
