Key Points:
- Farmer leaders claim authorities are preparing to remove protesters from Shambhu and Khanauri borders
- Meeting between farmer representatives and central ministers ended without resolution
- Several farmer leaders detained after the meeting
- Internet services suspended at protest sites as security forces deploy heavily
- Next round of talks scheduled for May 4
Chandigarh: The Punjab-Haryana border has become a flashpoint of tension as authorities reportedly prepare to clear farmer protests at the Shambhu and Khanauri borders, according to claims made by leaders of the agitating farmer organizations. These farmers have been demanding a legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price (MSP) and permission for their Delhi march since February.
A high-level meeting between farmer representatives and central government officials took place in Chandigarh but failed to yield any concrete results. The government delegation included Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Consumer Affairs Minister Prahlad Joshi, and Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, while the farmers were represented by prominent leaders Sarwan Singh Pandher, Jagjit Singh Dallewal, Abhimanyu Kohad, Kaka Singh Kotra, and Manjit Singh Rai.
In a dramatic turn of events, police detained these farmer leaders as they were returning to their protest sites after the meeting. Farmer leader Gurmanet Singh Mangat specifically warned that Punjab Police might be preparing to remove protesters from the two main agitation sites along the Punjab-Haryana border.
Tensions further escalated when clashes erupted between police and farmers at the Mohali-Chandigarh border near Airport Road, where authorities had deployed substantial security forces. As a precautionary measure, internet services have been suspended at both Shambhu and Khanauri protest sites.
The government has mobilized significant resources near the protest sites, with police personnel from various districts, ambulances, buses, and fire tenders positioned strategically. Despite the escalating situation, Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan described the meeting as “positive” and announced that discussions would continue, with the next round scheduled for May 4.
The farmers, organized under the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (non-political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, have maintained their protest since February, standing firm on their demands for MSP guarantees and the right to march to Delhi to press their concerns.
