Farmers March Towards Delhi to Protest Proposed India-US Trade Deal; Police Stop Protesters at Borders, Detain Leaders

Thousands of farmers from Punjab, Haryana and several other states attempted to reach Delhi's Kisan Ghat on Tuesday to protest against the proposed India-US Free Trade Agreement (FTA). However, Haryana Police blocked their march by erecting barricades and placing concrete slabs at key entry points, including the Shambhu and Khanauri borders. Farmers travelling towards Delhi from the Uttar Pradesh side were also stopped and detained by police.

Farmer organisations argue that the proposed trade agreement could have far-reaching consequences for India's agriculture and dairy sectors. They fear that greater market access for American farm products would flood the Indian market with subsidised imports, making it difficult for domestic farmers to secure remunerative prices for their produce.

Shambhu and Khanauri Borders Sealed

Haryana Police sealed the Shambhu border on Tuesday morning by installing barricades and concrete blocks to prevent farmers from moving towards the national capital. Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher alleged that the Haryana government was preventing farmers from participating in the Kisan Mahapanchayat being held in Delhi.

Carrying the flags of their respective organisations, farmers from different parts of Punjab gathered at the Shambhu border before beginning their planned march to Delhi. The day-long Kisan Mahapanchayat was organised at Kisan Ghat under the banner of the Desh Bachao Morcha, with the proposed India-US trade deal emerging as the central issue.

Police also blocked the bridge over the Ghaggar River and tightened security across several locations in Haryana. Members of the BKU Shaheed Bhagat Singh were stopped near Shahabad, while heavy police deployment and barricading were also witnessed at the Singhu border in Sonipat.

Charuni, VM Singh and Raju Shetti Detained

A day before the Delhi march, farmer leader Gurnam Singh Charuni was detained by Haryana Police in Kurukshetra district. His detention triggered protests by farmers at several locations across the state.

On Tuesday, farmer leader VM Singh and several other protesters who reached Kisan Ghat were also taken into custody. Farmer organisations alleged that they were not even being allowed to hold a peaceful demonstration.

Several leaders of the Rashtriya Kisan Mazdoor Sangathan, who were attempting to reach Kisan Ghat, were detained at the Uttar Pradesh border and taken to the Indirapuram police station in Ghaziabad.

Former MP and Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana leader Raju Shetti was also detained by Delhi Police. Several other farmers were picked up from Kisan Ghat and taken to police stations in Bawana and Burari. 

After his detention, Raju Shetty told RuralVoice that many farmers were stopped at the border. Those who reached Kisan Ghat this morning were detained and brought to Bawana. Sardar VM Singh is also with them. The farmers' struggle against the trade deal will continue, and a future strategy will be announced soon.

Protest on Delhi-Katra Expressway

Hundreds of farmers led by Bharatiya Kisan Union Ekta (Azad) staged a sit-in on the Delhi-Katra Expressway near Khanauri in Punjab's Sangrur district after they were prevented from proceeding towards Delhi.

The protesting farmers accused the government of adopting an authoritarian approach and using police force to suppress the voices of farmers, workers and students raising legitimate concerns. They alleged that the proposed trade agreement and other government policies were against the interests of farmers as well as the wider public, warning that they would continue their agitation until such "anti-people" policies were withdrawn.

Farmer organisations in Punjab had also organised statewide motorcycle rallies last week to oppose the proposed India-US trade agreement. They contend that the deal could adversely affect farmers, the dairy sector, small traders and the rural economy by exposing them to increased competition from American agricultural products.

Haryana Agriculture Minister Meets Farmers

Haryana Agriculture Minister Shyam Singh Rana met with protesting farmers at the Shambhu border. He assured them of talks with Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Chauhan and promised the release of arrested farmer leaders. Rana promised to arrange a meeting between the farmers and the central government within a week. The farmer leaders submitted their memorandum of demands to the Haryana Agriculture Minister.