Farmers’ Protest in Chandigarh: SKM’s March Against Punjab Government’s Crackdown and Unfulfilled Demands

The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) has called for a massive strike and a week-long ‘dharna’ in Chandigarh on March 5, 2025, to press for their demands, including a legal guarantee on minimum support prices, withdrawal of the Centre’s draft of the National Policy Framework on Agricultural Marketing, and other pressing issues like debt settlement, payment of sugarcane arrears, and ensuring canal water to every field. Thousands of farmers are expected to converge at the joint capital of Punjab and Haryana despite heavy security measures and barricades set up by Chandigarh Police to prevent their entry. The SKM, which had spearheaded the 2020 agitation against the now-repealed farm laws, is determined to move forward with the protest despite the Punjab government’s attempts to suppress it.

Early morning raids by Punjab Police on March 4 resulted in the detention of several SKM leaders, including prominent figures like Balbir Singh Rajewal, Ruldu Singh Mansa, Gurmeet Singh Bhatiwal, and others. The police also conducted raids at the residences of other farmer leaders, intensifying the tensions ahead of the protest. This crackdown came a day after a failed meeting between SKM leaders and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, which ended abruptly with the CM walking out, leaving the farmers’ demands unaddressed. The farmer unions condemned the detentions, accusing the Aam Aadmi Party government of trying to stifle the farmers’ voices through forceful actions.

Bharti Kisan Union (Lakhowal) general secretary Harinder Singh Lakhowal criticized the state government, stating that such measures would not deter the farmers from demanding their rights. He urged the farmers to reach Chandigarh in large numbers to make the protest a success. Meanwhile, CM Bhagwant Mann justified the crackdown, accusing the farmer unions of turning Punjab into a ‘state of dharnas’ and causing substantial economic losses with frequent rail and road blockades. He claimed that the protests were often fueled by a competition among various farmer unions to gain political mileage. Mann reiterated that while his government was open to discussions, the inconvenience caused to the public through such blockades was unacceptable.

In response to the SKM’s call, Chandigarh’s Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kanwardeep Kaur has deployed over 2,500 personnel across the city to prevent farmers from entering. Key entry points, including Zirakpur Barrier, Faida Barrier, and multiple sectors, have been sealed with barricades and heavy police presence. Additionally, around 1,200 personnel, including SHOs and DSPs, have been stationed at 12 special checkpoints to maintain law and order. SSP Kaur has directed all forces, including those on leave, to report back to duty to ensure that no protester manages to breach the security arrangements.

To avoid traffic disruptions and ensure public safety, Chandigarh Police has issued a traffic advisory, urging citizens to take alternative routes. Major affected areas include Sector 48/49 Dividing Road, Sector 49/50, Sector 50/51 (Jail Road), Sector 51/52 (Mataur Barrier), and several other key intersections. The advisory aims to prevent traffic congestion as thousands of farmers are anticipated to march towards the city in defiance of the barricades.

The ongoing conflict between the SKM and the Punjab government has escalated significantly since the failed talks on March 3. Farmer leaders accused CM Mann of abandoning the meeting in a fit of rage without any provocation, while the government maintained that the farmers’ demands were unrealistic and their protest methods were causing immense hardship to the general public. The SKM has emphasized that their fight is not just for financial relief but also for policy reforms that would secure farmers’ livelihoods in the long term. They are particularly demanding the implementation of the Swaminathan Commission report, which advocates for a comprehensive MSP policy to safeguard farmers against market fluctuations.

Amid the escalating situation, farmer leaders have called upon their supporters to breach the barricades and reach Chandigarh at all costs. Lakhowal warned the Punjab government against using force to suppress the protests and insisted that the agitation would continue until all demands were met. The SKM’s determination to move forward with the protest, coupled with the government’s stringent security measures, has set the stage for a major showdown in Chandigarh. The outcome of this standoff could have far-reaching implications for the state’s political landscape, especially with the SKM’s influence among the rural electorate and the mounting pressure on the AAP government to address the farmers’ concerns effectively.

#FarmersProtest #ChandigarhStrike #SamyuktaKisanMorcha #PunjabPolitics #BhagwantMann #FarmersDemands #ProtestLiveUpdates #AamAadmiParty