NEW DELHI: In a significant escalation in the ongoing farmers' agitation in Punjab, farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher was detained by the Punjab Police on March 19, 2025, in Zirakpur. This incident occurred against the backdrop of new negotiations held between protesting farmers and a central delegation in Chandigarh. Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, alongside colleagues Pralhad Joshi and Piyush Goyal, conducted talks with farmer leaders earlier in the day.
After the discussions, Chouhan reported, "The meeting took place in a very positive atmosphere and the discussions were very positive. The next date for the meeting is May 4.” Punjab Minister Harpal Singh Cheema echoed this sentiment, sharing that further engagement was planned with stakeholders seeking a legal guarantee on Minimum Support Price (MSP) for crops.
Ahead of the meetings, Pandher had announced that a 28-member delegation from the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha was poised to participate. These groups have been at the forefront of the farmers' ongoing protests, which have been marked by demands for better agricultural policies, including the introduction of a legal guarantee on MSP.
However, the situation intensified when the Punjab Police acted decisively to clear protesters from the Punjab-Haryana Shambhu Border on the same day. Reports confirmed that law enforcement dismantled the temporary structures erected by farmers, leading to clashes that resulted in multiple detentions.
State Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema justified the police action, stating, "Today's action has been taken because we want the youth of Punjab to get employment. The demands of the farmers are against the central government. They should stage a protest in Delhi or somewhere else but should not block the roads of Punjab.”
Simultaneously, over 200 farmers were detained during encounters with police as they attempted to make their way to the protest sites at Khanauri and Shambhu. Many farmers have been camping at these locations since February 13, 2024, when their march toward Delhi was halted by security. The prolonged presence of farmers at these borders has been a point of contention, with accusations that it has negatively impacted local businesses and economic activity.
As the police enforcement increased, renowned farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal also faced detention while leading fellow protesters. Dallewal, who had previously undergone a substantial hunger strike in demand of the MSP guarantee, became one of the high-profile figures to be detained amidst the unfolding protests.
In response to the police's actions, several opposition leaders voiced their criticisms. Congress MP Amarinder Singh Raja Warring accused both the central and Punjab governments of attempting to isolate farmers during their protests. "The farmers are being constantly deceived. Farmers were told to end their hunger strike and then we will hold talks with them,” he remarked, condemning the government's approach.
Harsimrat Kaur Badal, a member of the Shiromani Akali Dal, condemned the handling of the situation as indicative of a loss of control by the Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. "Jagjit Singh Dallewal who was on an indefinite hunger strike has also been detained by the police... No one is safe in Punjab,” Badal stated, highlighting concerns over the treatment of agricultural workers in the region.
Moreover, Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu criticized the Punjab government's stance, particularly focusing on their elected mandate. He stated, "They voted for you (AAP government) and Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann should be ashamed. They (the AAP government) did not want a solution to be found through talks between the central government and the farmers… People of Punjab will not allow Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann to enter any village.”
Despite the friction, the talks between farmer representatives and the central delegation, which lasted for several hours on March 19, were labeled as essential yet ultimately inconclusive. Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan noted that discussions would continue, with a follow-up meeting already scheduled for May 4.
At the heart of the unrest, the farmers are pressing for a range of demands beyond just the MSP security, including a debt waiver, pension for farmers and laborers, an end to hikes in electricity tariffs, and justice for those affected by the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence in Uttar Pradesh. Their grievances reflect long-standing frustrations within Punjab's agricultural community, heightened by perceived neglect from both the state and central governments.
The environment surrounding the protests remains charged with tension, as both the farmer leaders and the government prepare for what could be a decisive meeting in May. As these events unfold, the focus will remain on how the Punjab administration and the farmers can navigate these challenges, with the objective of finding solutions that seem increasingly elusive in the current political landscape.
