Kisan Bachao Padyatra Halted as Haryana Blocks Farmers’ March to Delhi

Haryana Police on Sunday stopped farmers from proceeding towards Delhi as part of the 228-km “Kisan Bachao Padyatra”, putting up multiple layers of barricades at the Khanauri inter-state border between Punjab and Haryana.

The march, organised by the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (Non-Political), was planned from Data Singh Wala village to Jantar Mantar in Delhi, where a farmers’ panchayat is scheduled for August 29. The protesters are opposing the proposed India-US trade deal and demanding a legal guarantee for procurement of crops at the Minimum Support Price (MSP).

Three rounds of talks between farmer representatives and Haryana government officials, including senior police and Jind district officials, failed to resolve the standoff. SKM (Non-Political) leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal rejected an offer to meet the Haryana Chief Minister, insisting that the Union Agriculture Minister should hold discussions with the farmers.

Dallewal said the trade agreement was the farmers’ primary concern and argued that the state government could not address the issue. He said farmers would remain peacefully at the border until the Union minister agreed to meet them. Authorities had deployed concrete barricades, barbed wire and riot-control vehicles at the border and imposed prohibitory orders. Traffic was diverted through alternative routes after the crossing was sealed. Police said the farmers did not have permission to undertake the march.

Dallewal said the proposed trade deal could hurt Indian farmers by allowing cheaper agricultural imports and putting pressure on domestic farm incomes. He also accused the government of blocking a peaceful foot march despite earlier concerns over tractor-based protests.

The farmers initially planned to have 51 participants, accompanied by around 200 volunteers and supporters. Following discussions with officials, they agreed to reduce the marching group to 41. Besides opposing the trade pact, the farmers are seeking an MSP law based on the Swaminathan Commission’s C2+50% formula, debt relief, higher sugarcane FRP and implementation of earlier assurances given by the Centre. The latest standoff comes after farmers had previously occupied the Shambhu and Khanauri border points for more than a year before being evicted by police last year.