Following over one year of agitation, farmers sitting at strategic points on the borders between Punjab and Haryana were removed by police force, where bulldozers were used to break down concrete barricades set up to bar farmer entry.
In a major enforcement action during evening hours on Wednesday, the Punjab Police arrested a number of union leaders, such as Jagjit Singh Dallewal and Sarwan Singh Pandher.
They also employed mild force to drive away the protesters that had gathered at the Shambhu and Khanauri locations along the Punjab-Haryana border.
At nightfall, the Haryana Police dismantled the barricades meant to stop movement, though the highways at both border terminals continue to remain closed.
The police arrested more than 300 protesters, including a 28-member delegation, soon after the third round of talks between the farmers and a Central government panel ended in Chandigarh.
In the meeting, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan assured that the government was still committed to helping farmers. A follow-up meeting has been scheduled for May 4.
Since February 13, 2024, national highways had been closed, and traffic was interrupted. Once the protesters were pushed back, the authorities started removing tractor-trailers from the Shambhu and Khanauri borders.
200 farmers were arrested at Khanauri and over 100 at Shambhu. Interim interruptions to internet and electricity services impacted areas surrounding both protest sites.
Senior Superintendent of Police Nanak Singh described how farmers have been agitating at Shambhu for quite a long time. "Today (March 19), following issuance of proper warning and with presence of Duty Magistrates, police cleared the place. Voluntarily, some protesters vacated. Further, vehicles and encroachments are being taken out to clear the roads for movement," he said.
Union Minister Ravneet Bittu also discussed clearing the path with Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini as Punjab officials evacuated farmers from the borders.
After meeting with the farm leaders, Union Minister Chouhan told the media in Chandigarh that the negotiations were positive, and the discussions would continue. The farmers reaffirmed their long-standing demands such as legal guarantees on the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for crops.
The government and farmer leaders had a positive and friendly discussion that lasted over three hours, discussing different legal, economic, and other issues of the farmers' grievances, as per an official release.
Chouhan was joined by other Cabinet Ministers Pralhad Joshi and Piyush Goyal, while Punjab's Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian represented the state. Farmers' leaders like Dallewal were also present.
Following the negotiations, the government intends to hold consultations with farmer organizations throughout India, state governments, and union territory governments and other stakeholders like traders, exporters, and the food processing industry.
The discussions were agreed to be continued in a constructive and cooperative spirit following these consultations.
In defense of the government’s actions, Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Cheema emphasized that the measures were necessary for the state’s economic progress.
"It is crucial that we also address the issue of unemployment," Cheema stated.
Before police intervention, AAP MP Malvinder Singh Kang had demanded a collaborative response to address the persistent farmer problems. He reminded that the extended border blockades had resulted in huge economic losses, slowed down investment, and resulted in a dip in tourism.
"The closing of Punjab's borders, especially the one at Shambhu, has not just brought with it major economic woes but has also damaged religious tourism. The frequency of travelers visiting sites such as Darbar Sahib has gone down.
To add to it, the non-availability of investment, so vital for industry expansion and generating employment opportunities, is still a huge issue. Unemployment then adds to the rising menace of drug abuse in Punjab," he said.
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