Farmers Stopped at Shambhu Border En Route to Delhi Protest Against India-US Trade Deal

New Delhi: Hundreds of farmers from Punjab were stopped by the Haryana Police at the Shambhu border while on their way to participate in the Kisan Mahapanchayat in Delhi against the proposed India-US trade agreement.

The farmers were prevented from entering Haryana at the state's entry point. Besides Punjab, farmers from Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan and several other states have already reached the national capital to participate in the protest.

In a move reminiscent of the "Delhi Chalo-2" agitation of February 2024, the border has been fortified with concrete blocks, iron barricades and wall-like structures to prevent the entry of protesters.

Unable to proceed to Delhi, the farmers launched a protest at the Shambhu border itself. They alleged that the Haryana and Punjab governments were denying them their democratic right to assemble in the national capital.

Tejvir Singh, leader of the BKU Shaheed Bhagat Singh faction, alleged that the Haryana Police had erected barricades within Punjab's territory and accused the Punjab government of remaining a "silent spectator" instead of resisting the move.

While vehicle convoys from Punjab were stopped, farmers from Haryana districts including Ambala and Kurukshetra continued their journey to Delhi.

The Mahapanchayat and protest rally are being organised under the banner of the Desh Bachao Morcha. Farmer organisations argue that the proposed India-US trade agreement, which they say would allow low-priced foreign agricultural products into India, would severely affect farmers, agricultural workers, dairy farmers, small traders and the country's agricultural economy.

Sarwan Singh Pandher, leader of the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, alleged that the proposed agreement extends far beyond a few agricultural products and could encompass agriculture, the dairy sector, industry, digital trade, e-commerce, government procurement, intellectual property rights and the services sector.

The protesting farmers demanded immediate intervention by the Central government, urging it to abandon the proposed trade agreement and safeguard the interests of farmers and ordinary citizens. Their primary demand is the immediate withdrawal of the proposed India-US free trade agreement.

They also called on the Central government to make all documents related to the proposed agreement public immediately and insisted that any final decision should be taken only after comprehens