[Breaking News] Farmers Protest: Police barricades at Chandigarh-Mohali border, to block farmer march

Farmers associated with the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) on Wednesday (March 5, 2025) alleged that they were being prevented from reaching Chandigarh for a planned ‘dharna’ in support of their various demands. The authorities have set up barricades at the Chandigarh-Mohali border, with security significantly heightened to restrict movement. The SKM, a coalition of over 30 farmer organisations, had announced a week-long sit-in in Chandigarh starting March 5 to press for their demands. However, as farmers set out in tractor-trolleys and other vehicles on Wednesday morning, they claimed that the Punjab Police stopped them from proceeding further.

In Moga, Jatinder Singh, the district president of the Krantikari Kisan Union, stated that farmers were halted by police at Ajitwal while heading towards Chandigarh. He further alleged that some farmers had been detained by the police. Similar reports emerged from Samrala, where farmers said they were blocked from moving forward. Frustrated by these restrictions, many raised slogans against the Bhagwant Mann government, criticising it for not allowing them to proceed. Adding to their troubles, the Chandigarh administration denied permission for the farmers’ protest at Sector 34. In anticipation of the agitation, the Chandigarh Police issued a traffic advisory on Tuesday, warning of potential traffic regulations on key roads on March 5 to ensure smooth vehicular movement and public safety.

Meanwhile, several farmer leaders were reportedly detained on Tuesday by Punjab Police. Those taken into custody included Balbir Singh Rajewal, Ruldu Singh Mansa, Gurmeet Singh Bhatiwal, Nachhattar Singh Jaiton, Veerpal Singh Dhillon, Binder Singh Golewal, and Gurnam Bhikhi. Despite these detentions, SKM leader Joginder Singh Ugrahan urged farmers to continue heading towards Chandigarh. He advised them to sit at any vacant place if stopped by police but not to block roads. Responding to the protests, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann criticised farmer organisations for frequent demonstrations, claiming they were turning Punjab into a “state of dharnas” and causing substantial economic losses. His remarks came after talks between the Punjab government and SKM leaders collapsed on Monday.

The SKM, which led the 2020 protests against the now-repealed farm laws, has presented several key demands. These include the withdrawal of the Centre’s draft of the National Policy Framework on Agricultural Marketing, a legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price (MSP) based on the Swaminathan Commission report, and the implementation of Punjab’s agricultural policy.

They are also demanding the procurement of six crops—basmati, maize, moong, potato, and others—at MSP by the state government, along with a law for debt settlement, ownership rights for land tillers, and ensured canal water supply to all farms. Additionally, farmers are seeking payment of sugarcane arrears, an end to the forcible acquisition of land for Bharatmala projects, as well as jobs and compensation for the families of farmers who lost their lives during the 2020-21 farmers’ agitation.

With inputs from agencies

Image Source: Multiple agencies

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