Farmers Suspend Delhi March After Haryana Government Agrees to Address Key Demands
Farmer groups pause their protest march following assurances of talks with central authorities and action on detained leaders.
Farmers heading towards Delhi to hold a Kisan Mahapanchayat at Kisan Ghat have temporarily suspended their march after receiving assurances from the Haryana government on their major demands.
The decision came after lengthy discussions between farmer leaders and a government delegation led by Haryana Agriculture Minister Shyam Singh Rana at the Shambhu border between Punjab and Haryana. Thousands of farmers from Punjab, Haryana, and other states had been moving towards Delhi to protest against the proposed India US bilateral trade agreement and Free Trade Agreement.
During the talks, farmer organisations raised two key demands. The first was a formal meeting between a farmers’ delegation and the Union Agriculture Minister or senior officials of the central government. The Haryana government assured that such a meeting would be arranged within the next seven to ten days and that an official communication would be issued regarding the matter.
The second demand was the immediate release of farmer leaders and activists detained during the protest. The state government assured the farmers that the issue would be discussed with the Chief Minister and efforts would be made to resolve it at the earliest.
Farmer groups have expressed concerns that the proposed trade agreement with the United States could negatively impact Indian agriculture, dairy farming, small businesses, and local industries. They fear that the entry of cheaper agricultural products from the US could affect the income and livelihood of local farmers.
Under the banner of the Desh Bachao Morcha, farmer leaders have urged the central government to either cancel the agreement or provide strong safeguards to protect the interests of the agricultural sector.
Earlier, Haryana Police had sealed the Shambhu and Khanauri border points to prevent the farmers’ march towards Delhi. Multiple layers of barricades, concrete blocks, and heavy security deployment were placed, affecting traffic movement in the area.
Despite the restrictions, farmer leaders maintained that their protest was peaceful and said they wanted dialogue with the government rather than confrontation.
Following the government’s assurances, farmer leaders held internal discussions to review the situation and decide their next course of action. While the Delhi march has been suspended for now, they warned that the movement could be intensified if their concerns are not addressed within the promised timeframe and detained leaders are not released.