Large police force deployed at Shambhu border.
Punjab farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher on Tuesday criticised the Haryana government for setting up barricades at the Shambhu border to stop farmers heading to Delhi to join a mahapanchayat opposing the proposed India-US trade agreement. A large police force has been deployed at the Punjab-Haryana Shambhu border. Barricades have been placed on the bridge over the Ghaggar river, and cement blocks have been positioned to obstruct the movement of farmers.
A one-day "Kisan Mahapanchayat" is planned to be held at Delhi's Kisan Ghat under the banner of the "Desh Bachao Morcha" in protest against the proposed India-US trade agreement. Farmer leaders had already said that a large number of farmers from Punjab, Haryana and other states would participate in this mahapanchayat. Farmers from various parts of Punjab have already prepared to travel to Delhi by bus.
Speaking in Fatehgarh Sahib, Punjab, Pandher said farmers want to go to Delhi peacefully, but the Haryana government is stopping them at the Shambhu border. He alleged that this action has exposed the real face of Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, who often visits Punjab and makes big promises to the people of the state. Pandher said farmers are demanding the complete cancellation of the proposed India-US trade agreement. He said that after reaching the Shambhu border, further strategy would be decided in consultation with other farmer leaders.
The farmers' convoy departed from Gurdwara Sri Fatehgarh Sahib on Tuesday morning. More than a thousand farmers had spent Monday night at the gurdwara's sarai (rest house). After leaving the gurdwara, the convoy reached Madhopur near Sirhind on GT Road and proceeded from there towards the Shambhu border.
Earlier on Monday, Bharatiya Kisan Union (Chaduni) chief Gurnam Singh Chaduni was detained by police in Kurukshetra while he was on his way to Delhi to join the mahapanchayat. Farmers have demanded that the central government intervene immediately to cancel the proposed trade agreement and ensure the protection of the interests of farmers and the general public.
