Chandigarh, 16 August (H.S.): Tension prevailed throughout Sunday at the Khanauri-Datta Singhwala border adjoining Haryana’s Jind district after Punjab farmer organisations announced a march to Delhi. Haryana Police sealed the route with multi-layer barricading, and after two rounds of talks with the Jind Deputy Commissioner failed to produce any result, farmers announced a permanent protest at the border.

Several farmer organisations from Punjab had announced that they would begin a foot march to Delhi and aim to reach the national capital on August 29. Farmers from different districts of Punjab reached the Khanauri border in buses, while Haryana Police sealed the state boundary from Sunday morning and erected three layers of barricades.

Around 55 farmers heading towards Delhi were stopped by Haryana Police at the Khanauri-Datta Singhwala border. A group of 55 farmers led by farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal also collected soil from the spot where Shubhkaran Singh had died during the 2024 farmers’ agitation.

Dallewal said that this time the road had been blocked by Haryana Police and not by the farmers. He said the Supreme Court and the High Court should take note of the situation. According to him, only a limited number of farmers wanted to travel to Delhi to present their demands.

He said the farmers would not leave the protest site until their demands were addressed. Farmer leaders maintained that the proposed march would remain completely peaceful.

The farmers said the purpose of the march was to raise issues concerning the farming community and also register opposition to the India-US trade deal before the Central Government.

According to farmer leaders, one farmer will mainly undertake the journey on foot while a small number of farmers will accompany him and carry essential belongings. The group will make scheduled halts along the route and proceed towards Delhi in phases.

The farmers aim to reach Jantar Mantar in Delhi on August 29, where they plan to hold a one-day Kisan Panchayat. They also intend to submit a memorandum containing their demands to the government.

The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) had announced the “Kisan Bachao Padyatra” from the Khanauri-Datta Singhwala border to Jantar Mantar in protest against the India-US trade agreement.

Dallewal said the farmers were not in favour of any confrontation and wanted to proceed peacefully. He said only a limited number of farmers were part of the march and there was neither a large gathering nor a convoy of tractors and trolleys.

Meanwhile, Jind Deputy Commissioner Vaishali Sharma held two rounds of talks with the farmer leaders, but no breakthrough was achieved. Jind Superintendent of Police Kuldeep Singh also reached the Datta Singhwala border.

Police officials said the administration would ensure that the general public did not face inconvenience. The farmers were informed that Section 163 was in force in the area and they could not be allowed to proceed further.

Security checkpoints have been set up at several locations as a precautionary measure. Following the failure of talks, farmer organisations announced that more groups would now gather at the Khanauri border and continue the protest there.

Hindusthan Samachar / GURSHARAN SINGH