Surprisingly, such an action was taken against the farmers at a time when Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan had said after the talk, “a positive discussion took place in a cordial atmosphere. The talks will continue. The next meeting will take place on May 4.” Besides Mr. Chouhan, Consumer Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi and Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal also attended the meeting held at the Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Public Administration in Chandigarh, Sector 26. The government of Punjab was represented by the Finance Minister of Punjab Harpal Singh Cheema and the Minister of Agriculture Gurmeet Singh Khuddian. From farmers side, a 28-member delegation of Samyukta Kisan Morcha (non-political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) participated in the talks.

In the last round of meeting held on February 22, the central team which included Union Ministers Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Prahlad Joshi and Piyush Goyal had sought data from the farmers backing their demand for legal guarantee for MSP to discuss them with experts. Farmers representative had said that legal guarantee for MSP can be given with an estimated outlay of Rs25000-Rs30000 crore per annum.

Protesting farmers have been on sit-in protest at Shambhu and Khanauri borders between Punjab and Haryana since February 13, 2024, since the highways were blocked by BJP ruled Haryana. About 700 farmers from Khanauri border and 300 farmers from Shambu border were initially reported detained, while farmers protested in several district headquarters of Punjab and Haryana. Police action continues the whole day on March 20, 2025.

Farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who was on hunger strike for over 110 days, was also detained, and has reportedly hospitalised. The decision to take action was reportedly made on March 17 night, following a meeting between top AAP functionaries of the Punjab government and industrialists, who had expressed concerns that protests were incurring significant costs.

Minister of Industry in Punjab, Tarunpreet Singh Sond has said, "Our government has always supported farmers, but the state has incurred significant losses. Highways are crucial for business and employment."

After the eviction of protesting farmers from their Shambu and Khanauri borders, Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee leader Satnam Singh Pannu has condemned both the Union government led by BJP, and the Punjab government led by AAP. In a video shared on social media by Kisan Morcha, Pannu has said, "We condemn the action against farmers by the Bhagwant Mann government in collaboration with or on the orders of the Modi government. The Bhagwant Mann government and Modi government will have to pay a heavy price for this. Today, we will hold protest demonstrations outside the offices of Deputy Commissioners in Haryana and Punjab against the atrocities on farmers."

Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait condemned the Punjab government’s action and said, "On one hand, the government is negotiating with the farmer organizations and on the other hand, it is arresting them."

Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Sukhbir Singh Badal also criticised and condemned the Punjab government for such an action against the farmers. He has demanded release of the arrested farmers. He also accused the AAP government in Punjab of ignoring farmers demand despite promising MSP on crops. SAD MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal said that Mann had “lost his mental balance”. She also said, "Jagjit Singh Dallewal who was on an indefinite hunger strike has also been detained by the police. During the elections, Bhagwant Mann promised that he would fulfil all the demands of the farmers, but after the formation of the government, he is just lying to the farmers. No one is safe in Punjab”.

Former Chief Minister of Punjab and Congress leader Charanjit Singh Channi has said that a major action was being planned by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann along with the Centre’s help. Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring has even questioned the need for the Punjab Police to arrest farmer leaders while negotiations were already underway between the central government and farmers. "The way atrocities have been done on farmers, I condemn it. The real face of the governments that used to say that we are well-wishers of the farmers has been exposed. Bhagwant Mann and Union Home Minister Amit Shah have done the work of beating them (farmers), this should not happen… ," Warring said.

Working President of the Kisan Congress Bajrang Punia while criticising the police action against the protesting farmers said, "The government was just pretending to talk to farmers. Arresting them after discussions shows they are not serious about solving the farmers' problems. This is a betrayal." He even urged people to support farmers against oppressive actions of the Central and Punjab government.

Police have arrested several farmer leaders, including Sarwan Singh Pandher and Jagjit Singh Dallewal while returning from the meeting. Thereafter, tents were dismantled, and farmers in sit in protests at Shambhu and Khanauri borders were arrested and evicted.

Finance Minister of Punjab Harpal Singh Cheema, who was also part of the talk, has justified the police action saying that industries and businesses were hit hard due to the prolonged closure of the two highways.

On the other hand, BJP leader and Union Minister of State for Railways Ravneet Singh Bittu has also strongly condemned the police action on farmers, and accused the AAP government in Punjab of trying to “sabotage” the ongoing talks between the Centre and farmers.

All these statements of farmers and political leaders of various parties suggest that the farmers in the country are now at a turning point of their fate which would depend on their decision on further course of action. Nevertheless, last two days of protests and chakka jam (road blockades) by farmers and their altercation with the police at several places indicate that they can’t be easily suppressed by the various lobbies and the governments. The incident may also prove to be a new phase of agrarian politics in the country.

Congress MPs from Punjab have also protested before the Parliament in New Delhi on March 20 over the issues of farmers and police action against them. The protest was both against the Punjab led by AAP and the Centre led by the BJP. (IPA Service)