The Punjab police thwarted a massive week-long protest planned by Punjab farmers, stopping them from entering the state capital, Chandigarh, on Wednesday. This action followed Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s warning that protests should not cause public inconvenience.
Multiple police checkpoints were set up across Punjab, and security was tightened at all entry points to Chandigarh. Farmers, who were heading towards the city in tractor-trolleys and other vehicles, were stopped by security forces, leading to heightened tensions between the government and the protesting farmers.
The situation escalated after the Chief Minister walked out of a meeting with farmer leaders, prompting them to proceed with their protest. However, following the police crackdown, the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) – a coalition of over 30 farmer organizations that had led the agitation against the now-repealed farm laws – decided to call off the protest. The group has announced a meeting on March 7 to determine their next course of action.
In a strong statement, the SKM warned Chief Minister Mann that if Punjab’s farmers decide to court arrest in defense of their democratic rights, his government “will not have enough jails.” The farmer body has also alleged that several of its leaders have been detained by the police.
The farmers have put forth a list of demands, including the purchase of six crops at Minimum Support Price (MSP) by the state government. They had initially planned to begin an indefinite sit-in protest in Chandigarh to press for these demands.
Earlier in the day, Deputy Inspector General of Police (Ropar Range) Harcharan Singh Bhullar asserted that farmers would not be allowed to reach Chandigarh at any cost. “Wherever any farmer came out on the roads, the local police stopped them there itself. They were sitting there peacefully,” he said, adding that the situation in Punjab remains under control.
Despite the police action, farmers remain determined to continue their movement, with further decisions expected after their March 7 meeting.
Sources By Agencies