Punjab farmers protest: Bulldozer, cranes reach Khanauri, Shambhu; ‘chakka jam’ announced — Why are they protesting?

The Punjab Police removed farmers from their protest site near the Punjab-Haryana Shambhu Border late Wednesday. Police also demolished the tents erected by farmers at the border areas. The action was also taken at the Khanauri protest site.

Bulldozer, tow trucks and cranes

A video showed police using bulldozer to erase temporary structures built by the protesters. In another video, police personnel could be seen removing fans from the temporary stage set up by farmers at Punjab-Haryana Shambhu Border.

Another clip, shot at the Punjab-Haryana Khanauri Border, showed the Punjab Police bringing in tow trucks and cranes to remove farmers’ tractors, trucks, and other belongings on Thursday.

Farmer leaders detained

The incident was reported as several farmer leaders, including Sarwan Singh Pandher and Jagjit Singh Dallewal, were detained in Mohali while returning from a meeting with a central delegation.

Farmer leader Guramneet Singh Mangat said Abhimanyu Kohar, Kaka Singh Kotra and Manjit Singh Rai were detained alongside Sarwan Singh Pandher and Jagjit Singh Dallewal.

Police’s action angered the protesting farmers, who have now called for nationwide protest.

Chakka jam, nationwide protest

Following the incident, the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha reportedly announced a nationwide protest outside the offices of deputy commissioners on Thursday.

“A few farmer leaders have announced a ‘chakka jaam’ across Punjab to register their protest against the arrest of farmer leaders Jagjit Singh Dallewal, Sarwan Singh Pandher and others,” the Tribune reported.

The report added that such announcements have been made at village level and farmers were told to block the nearest roads.

Farmer leaders said that this step is being taken against the government’s lack of attention to their legitimate demands and strict action on peaceful demonstrations.

Meanwhile, spokesperson of SKM (Non-Political) Gurdeep Singh was quoted as saying that the detained farmer leaders have started a hunger strike in police custody.

Punjab Congress MPs, including Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, also protest against Punjab and the central government on the issue of removal of farmers from Punjab-Haryana Khanauri Border and Shambhu Border and other issues.

Farmers ‘given proper warning’

Patiala SSP Nanak Singh said that farmers had been protesting at Shambhu Border for a long time. “Today, in the presence of Duty Magistrates, Police cleared the area after they were given proper warning. A few people showed a willingness to go home. So, they were sent home on a bus,” he told news agency ANI.

The official added that the structures and vehicles at the border were being moved. The entire road will be cleared and opened for traffic.

“Haryana Police will also begin their action. Once it opens from their side, the movement on highway will resume. We did not need to use any force because there was no resistance. Farmers cooperated well and they sat in buses by themselves,” Singh said.

Govt ‘will have to pay a heavy price’

After protesting farmers were removed from Shambhu and Khanauri borders, Satnam Singh Pannu of Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee condemned the action against farmers by the Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab government

“The Bhagwant Mann government and Modi government will have to pay a heavy price for this. Today, we will hold protest demonstrations outside the offices of Deputy Commissioners in Haryana and Punjab against the atrocities on farmers,” he said.

Security heightened at Shambhu Border, internet suspended

Security was beefed up at Haryana-Punjab Shambhu Border as police removed concrete barricades erected at the border to restrict farmers’ movement further from where they were sitting on a protest over various demands.

In light of the farmers’ agitation, internet services were suspended in the Sangrur district. Internet has also been shut since Wednesday evening in Patiala and surrounding towns. the Tribune reported.

Farmers attack AAP govt in Punjab, list out demands

Punjab farmers accused the AAP of negligence on issues such as stubble burning and paddy procurement mismanagement. BKU leaders warned of protests if harassment continues. They demanded subsidies, proper storage, and government action to prevent farmland from becoming barren.

Meanwhile, farmer leader Rakesh Tikait said, “The Punjab government created unnecessary issues instead of resolving them through discussions.”

“Farmers who are detained should be released, and the Punjab government should talk to them about the roadblocks in the state,” he said, adding that the central government wants farmers and the Punjab government to remain in conflict.

“The Punjab CM should hold talks with farmers and establish coordination. The demands are with the central government, and Punjab should act immediately; otherwise, the entire movement will shift to Punjab,” Tikait said.

He added, “If the government fails to act, the protests will continue across the country. Meetings are already being held in Chhattisgarh and Odisha as part of the movement.”

Farmers’ protest ‘harming Punjab’s economy’

Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema justified police’s action by saying that “farmers’ protest was harming the economy of Punjab.”

He said, “Today’s action has been taken because we want the youth of Punjab to get employment.”

“We want to open Shambhu and Khanauri borders…The demands of the farmers are against the central government and they should stage a protest in Delhi or somewhere else but should not block the roads of Punjab…,” Cheema said.

Farmer leaders to meet central team again

A fresh round of talks between protesting farmers and a central delegation will be held here on Wednesday to discuss their various demands, including a legal guarantee for minimum support price (MSP) for crops. 

The farmers said a legal guarantee for MSP can be given with an estimated outlay of ₹25,000-30,000 crore per annum. Besides a legal guarantee for MSP, the farmers are demanding a debt waiver, pension for farmers and farm labourers, no hike in electricity tariffs, withdrawal of police cases against farmers, justice for the victims of the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence in Uttar Pradesh, reinstatement of the Land Acquisition Act, 2013, and compensation to the families of farmers who died during a previous agitation in 2020-21.

The meeting will be held at the Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Public Administration in Sector 26 here at 11 am, PTI reported

Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher said a 28-member delegation of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha will take part in the meeting.

Prior to this meeting, four rounds of meetings took place between central ministers and the protesting farmers in February 2024 but the talks remained inconclusive.

The last meeting between the farmers and the central delegation was held here on February 22. The meeting was attended by Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Consumer Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi, and Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal.

The Punjab Police removed farmers from their protest site near the Punjab-Haryana Shambhu Border late Wednesday. Police also demolished the tents erected by farmers at the border areas. The action was also taken at the Khanauri protest site.

Bulldozer, tow trucks and cranes

A video showed police using bulldozer to erase temporary structures built by the protesters. In another video, police personnel could be seen removing fans from the temporary stage set up by farmers at Punjab-Haryana Shambhu Border.

Another clip, shot at the Punjab-Haryana Khanauri Border, showed the Punjab Police bringing in tow trucks and cranes to remove farmers’ tractors, trucks, and other belongings on Thursday.

Farmer leaders detained

The incident was reported as several farmer leaders, including Sarwan Singh Pandher and Jagjit Singh Dallewal, were detained in Mohali while returning from a meeting with a central delegation.

Farmer leader Guramneet Singh Mangat said Abhimanyu Kohar, Kaka Singh Kotra and Manjit Singh Rai were detained alongside Sarwan Singh Pandher and Jagjit Singh Dallewal.

Police’s action angered the protesting farmers, who have now called for nationwide protest.

Chakka jam, nationwide protest

Following the incident, the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha reportedly announced a nationwide protest outside the offices of deputy commissioners on Thursday.

“A few farmer leaders have announced a ‘chakka jaam’ across Punjab to register their protest against the arrest of farmer leaders Jagjit Singh Dallewal, Sarwan Singh Pandher and others,” the Tribune reported.

The report added that such announcements have been made at village level and farmers were told to block the nearest roads.

Farmer leaders said that this step is being taken against the government’s lack of attention to their legitimate demands and strict action on peaceful demonstrations.

Meanwhile, spokesperson of SKM (Non-Political) Gurdeep Singh was quoted as saying that the detained farmer leaders have started a hunger strike in police custody.

Punjab Congress MPs, including Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, also protest against Punjab and the central government on the issue of removal of farmers from Punjab-Haryana Khanauri Border and Shambhu Border and other issues.

Farmers ‘given proper warning’

Patiala SSP Nanak Singh said that farmers had been protesting at Shambhu Border for a long time. “Today, in the presence of Duty Magistrates, Police cleared the area after they were given proper warning. A few people showed a willingness to go home. So, they were sent home on a bus,” he told news agency ANI.

The official added that the structures and vehicles at the border were being moved. The entire road will be cleared and opened for traffic.

“Haryana Police will also begin their action. Once it opens from their side, the movement on highway will resume. We did not need to use any force because there was no resistance. Farmers cooperated well and they sat in buses by themselves,” Singh said.

Govt ‘will have to pay a heavy price’

After protesting farmers were removed from Shambhu and Khanauri borders, Satnam Singh Pannu of Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee condemned the action against farmers by the Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab government

“The Bhagwant Mann government and Modi government will have to pay a heavy price for this. Today, we will hold protest demonstrations outside the offices of Deputy Commissioners in Haryana and Punjab against the atrocities on farmers,” he said.

Security heightened at Shambhu Border, internet suspended

Security was beefed up at Haryana-Punjab Shambhu Border as police removed concrete barricades erected at the border to restrict farmers’ movement further from where they were sitting on a protest over various demands.

In light of the farmers’ agitation, internet services were suspended in the Sangrur district. Internet has also been shut since Wednesday evening in Patiala and surrounding towns. the Tribune reported.

Farmers attack AAP govt in Punjab, list out demands

Punjab farmers accused the AAP of negligence on issues such as stubble burning and paddy procurement mismanagement. BKU leaders warned of protests if harassment continues. They demanded subsidies, proper storage, and government action to prevent farmland from becoming barren.

Meanwhile, farmer leader Rakesh Tikait said, “The Punjab government created unnecessary issues instead of resolving them through discussions.”

“Farmers who are detained should be released, and the Punjab government should talk to them about the roadblocks in the state,” he said, adding that the central government wants farmers and the Punjab government to remain in conflict.

“The Punjab CM should hold talks with farmers and establish coordination. The demands are with the central government, and Punjab should act immediately; otherwise, the entire movement will shift to Punjab,” Tikait said.

He added, “If the government fails to act, the protests will continue across the country. Meetings are already being held in Chhattisgarh and Odisha as part of the movement.”

Farmers’ protest ‘harming Punjab’s economy’

Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema justified police’s action by saying that “farmers’ protest was harming the economy of Punjab.”

He said, “Today’s action has been taken because we want the youth of Punjab to get employment.”

“We want to open Shambhu and Khanauri borders…The demands of the farmers are against the central government and they should stage a protest in Delhi or somewhere else but should not block the roads of Punjab…,” Cheema said.

Farmer leaders to meet central team again

A fresh round of talks between protesting farmers and a central delegation will be held here on Wednesday to discuss their various demands, including a legal guarantee for minimum support price (MSP) for crops. 

The farmers said a legal guarantee for MSP can be given with an estimated outlay of ₹25,000-30,000 crore per annum. Besides a legal guarantee for MSP, the farmers are demanding a debt waiver, pension for farmers and farm labourers, no hike in electricity tariffs, withdrawal of police cases against farmers, justice for the victims of the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence in Uttar Pradesh, reinstatement of the Land Acquisition Act, 2013, and compensation to the families of farmers who died during a previous agitation in 2020-21.

The meeting will be held at the Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Public Administration in Sector 26 here at 11 am, PTI reported

Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher said a 28-member delegation of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha will take part in the meeting.

Prior to this meeting, four rounds of meetings took place between central ministers and the protesting farmers in February 2024 but the talks remained inconclusive.

The last meeting between the farmers and the central delegation was held here on February 22. The meeting was attended by Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Consumer Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi, and Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal.