Fatehgarh Sahib, July 21: Haryana police have erected concrete barricades at the Shambhu border to prevent farmers from heading to Delhi. Farmer organizations have announced a ‘Mahapanchayat’ in the capital to protest the proposed India-US agricultural trade agreement. In anticipation of a large number of farmers traveling from Punjab, authorities have tightened security and increased surveillance at the Shambhu border.
Meanwhile, farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher criticized the central and Haryana governments, asserting that farmers should have the constitutional right to peacefully express their views in the national capital. He stated that farmers only wish to travel to Delhi for a peaceful four-hour protest, yet they are being stopped at the Shambhu border.
Pandher remarked, “We want to raise this question before the 1.4 billion people of the country: Is Punjab not a part of this nation? We should also have the right to peacefully protest in our capital for four hours. Previously, it was said that farmers come with tractors and sit for long durations. This time, we have decided to travel by buses and hold a program for just four hours. Despite this, we are being stopped.”
He claimed that farmers are bearing the costs of the buses themselves, with each bus costing around 50,000 rupees. Yet, they are still being halted at the border. Pandher accused the Haryana government of trying to prevent farmers from reaching Delhi, stating that this attitude is against democratic rights.
The farmer leader emphasized that they do not seek any confrontation. He stated, “We have made it clear that wherever the government stops us, there will be no confrontation from our side. This is a ‘Save the Nation’ movement, and our protest will remain entirely peaceful.”
Pandher appealed to the central government to engage in dialogue with farmers to find a resolution.
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