Farmers' protest in Delhi Highlights: Farmers suspend Delhi march after Haryana accepts key demands

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Ambala Deputy Commissioner Ajay Singh Tomar on Monday said discussions were held with farmer union leaders under the leadership of Haryana Agriculture Minister Shyam Singh Rana, during which the farmers raised two key demands.

Tomar said the first demand was to facilitate a meeting with senior officials or the Union Agriculture Minister. He added that the Haryana Agriculture Minister assured the unions that such a meeting would be arranged soon and that a formal communication confirming it would be issued.

On the second demand concerning the arrested farmer leaders, Tomar said the minister assured the delegation that he would immediately speak to the Chief Minister to ensure the matter is resolved at the earliest.

Haryana Minister Shyam Singh Rana on Monday said the state government has received the charter of demands submitted by farmers' unions and will forward it to the appropriate authorities for consideration. He also assured that the issue concerning farmer leader Gurnam Singh Chaduni would be taken up with Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini and resolved by the evening.

Rana further said the government would facilitate a meeting between the farmers and the Centre within a week to 10 days. "We will arrange a discussion with Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, or whoever the central government designates, within a week or 10 days," he said, expressing hope that the pending issues would be resolved through dialogue.

Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher said the Haryana Agriculture Minister had accepted the farmers' memorandum and assured them that a meeting with Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan would be arranged, with confirmation expected within 8 to 10 days. Pandher also said officials had agreed, after consulting the Chief Minister, to release farmer leaders Gurnam Singh Chaduni and BM Singh. He added that the farmers would decide the future course of their protest after the leaders are released.

Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher said the marching farmers had been stopped at the Shambhu border and that they would hold talks with the administration before deciding the next course of action.

Delhi Police has advised commuters to avoid several roads in the vicinity of the protest site due to the farmers' demonstration. The affected routes include Velodrome Road, Rajghat DTC Depot Road, Rajghat DTC Bypass Road, nearby connecting roads around the protest venue, and Satyagrah Marg.

Farmer organisations strongly opposed the proposed India-US trade deal, alleging that it would harm the country's agricultural sector by opening the door to cheaper imports and hurting domestic farm incomes.

They claimed the agreement would adversely affect not only farmers but also agricultural labourers, livestock rearers, small traders and micro enterprises. According to the protesters, the deal extends beyond agriculture to sectors such as dairy, industry, digital trade, e-commerce, government procurement, intellectual property rights and services.

Urging the Centre to intervene, the farmers demanded that the proposed trade agreement be abandoned to protect the interests of cultivators and the broader public.

The Congress alleged that the Centre had erected barricades to stop farmers from entering the national capital in an attempt to avoid another confrontation after what it described as the use of excessive force against protesting youth a day earlier. The party said the barricades could not conceal what it called the government's failure to address the concerns of farmers, young people and other sections of society while favouring a privileged few.

Thousands of farmers assembled at the Shambhu border on the Punjab-Haryana border ahead of their scheduled march to Delhi on Tuesday. Visuals from the Patiala side showed protesters gathering in large numbers.

On the Punjab farmers' protest, Congress said the government had previously been forced to roll back the farm laws after sustained protests and farmer suicides. Calling India an agrarian nation, he alleged that the Centre's trade deal and tariff decisions were anti-farmer. The Congress further accused the government of being hostile towards all sections of society and trying to remain in power through defections and tactics that undermine the people's mandate, citing Bengal and Maharashtra as examples.

Farmer unions say they are protesting the proposed India-US trade deal before it is signed because they fear it could open India's agriculture sector to cheaper American imports, hurting farmers' incomes and rural livelihoods. The Centre, however, has maintained that agriculture remains a "red line" in the negotiations and that sensitive farm products will be protected in any final agreement. Read the full story here.

Delhi Police have stepped up security at the Ghazipur border ahead of the farmers' planned march to the national capital. Barricades have been installed at the Delhi-Uttar Pradesh border as authorities prepare for the farmers' mobilisation. Security personnel remain deployed at the border to regulate movement and maintain law and order.

Punjab farmers marching towards Delhi for the Mahapanchayat against the proposed India-US trade deal were stopped by Haryana Police near the Khanauri border, India Today TV's Kamaljit Kaur Sandhu reports.

Heavy barricades have been placed on the Bharatmala Jammu-Katra Expressway to prevent the farmers from entering Haryana. Police and farmers are currently facing off at the border as authorities attempt to stop the convoy from proceeding towards the national capital.

Farmers from Punjab, Haryana and several other states are heading to Delhi to attend a Mahapanchayat against the proposed India-US Free Trade Agreement (FTA). Farmer organisations say the proposed pact could adversely affect India's agriculture and dairy sectors by increasing competition from imports.

They have demanded that the Centre scrap the proposed agreement and consult stakeholders before finalising any trade deal.

Bharatiya Kisan Union (Charuni) chief Gurnam Singh Charuni was detained by Haryana Police near Pehowa in Kurukshetra while on his way to Delhi for the farmers' Mahapanchayat against the proposed India-US trade deal, PTI reported.

His detention triggered protests by BKU workers at multiple locations, including a sit-in at a toll plaza in Hisar and a brief blockade at the Shambhu toll plaza near Ambala. Police later detained several protesters and restored traffic movement.

Farmers' body leader Sarwan Singh Pandher told India Today TV's Kamaljit Kaur Sandhu that the convoy is determined to reach Delhi, but whether it is allowed to proceed depends on the Narendra Modi-led Centre and the Haryana government.

Reiterating the farmers' opposition to the proposed India-US Free Trade Agreement (FTA), Pandher alleged that the pact would benefit American farmers at the cost of Indian agriculture.

He also claimed farmer groups learnt about the proposed agreement through a White House release rather than the Indian government.

Heavy security remains in place at the Shambhu border ahead of the farmers' planned rally in Delhi, reports India Today TV's Kamaljit Kaur Sandhu. Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) has been imposed in the area, with barricades placed on both sides of the road and vehicular movement restricted.

Police personnel in anti-riot gear have been deployed, while leaders of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha are expected to arrive shortly.

Farmer groups are demanding the cancellation of the proposed India-US Free Trade Agreement, claiming it would adversely affect India's agriculture and dairy sectors.