Shambhu/Ambala, Jul 21: Haryana Police on Tuesday sealed the Shambhu border with barricades and concrete blocks to prevent farmers from entering Delhi for the Kisan Mahapanchayat being organised at Kisan Ghat under the banner of the Desh Bachao Morcha.
Hundreds of farmers from Punjab gathered at the border carrying flags of their respective organisations and attempted to proceed towards the national capital to participate in the protest against the proposed India-US trade agreement.
Heavy police deployment was made at the Punjab-Haryana border, with authorities fencing the bridge over the Ghaggar River and tightening security to stop the convoy.
Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher accused the Nayab Singh Saini-led Haryana Government of preventing farmers from peacefully travelling to Delhi.
“We wanted to proceed peacefully to Delhi, but the Haryana Government has blocked us at the Shambhu border,” Pandher said, alleging that the move exposed the government’s “true face.”
Bharatiya Kisan Union (Shaheed Bhagat Singh) leader Tejveer Singh also criticised the administration, claiming the border had been sealed without prior notice.
The farmers’ convoy began its journey from Gurdwara Sri Fatehgarh Sahib, where over a thousand protesters had stayed overnight before moving towards Shambhu via Sirhind.
Farmers in Kurukshetra also claimed they were stopped near Jyotisar while heading to Delhi.
In view of the protest, Haryana Police issued a traffic advisory, suggesting alternate routes for commuters travelling between Punjab, Haryana and Delhi.
The protesting farmers have demanded that the Centre scrap the proposed India-US trade deal, alleging it would allow cheaper agricultural imports into India, hurting domestic farmers, agricultural labourers, livestock rearers, small traders and micro industries.
They argued that the agreement would affect multiple sectors, including agriculture, dairy, industry, digital trade, e-commerce, government procurement, intellectual property rights and services, and urged the Centre to safeguard farmers’ interests by abandoning the proposed pact.
The barricading mirrors similar security measures imposed in February 2024, when farmers attempted to march to Delhi demanding a legal guarantee for the Minimum Support Price (MSP) of crops.
