2 weeks ago
Haryana seals Khanauri border to stop farmers' Delhi march
Farmers in India wanted to walk a very long way to Delhi to tell the government they are worried about a new trade deal with America.
They are afraid the deal might hurt their farms and make it hard to sell their crops for a fair price.
The police in a state called Haryana put up big walls, wires, and trucks at the border to stop them from walking through.
The police said the farmers did not have permission for their walk.
The farmers' leader said they just wanted to walk peacefully, but the police blocked the road.
The farmers' leader asked to talk to the national agriculture minister instead of the state leader.
The farmers said they would sit quietly by the road until they could talk to the right person.
They also want the government to promise to buy their crops at a fair price.
Another farmers' group, the Bharatiya Kisan Union, warned that big American farms could push small Indian farmers into trouble if farming is part of the deal.
This is a story about farmers and the government disagreeing over a trade deal.
Haryana Police sealed the Khanauri inter-state border point on Sunday with concrete barricades, riot-control vehicles, and barbed wire, saying farmers lacked permission for the march.
SKM (Non-Political) called for a 228-km 'Kisan Bachao Padyatra' from Data Singh Wala village to Jantar Mantar in Delhi, culminating in a farmers' panchayat on August 29.
The march opposes the proposed India-US trade deal and demands a legal guarantee for crop procurement at MSP based on the Swaminathan Commission's C2+50% formula.
Three rounds of talks with Haryana officials remained inconclusive; leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal rejected a meeting with the chief minister and sought the Union agriculture minister instead.
Dallewal said 51 farmers and around 200 volunteers would participate, and announced farmers would sit peacefully at the border, accusing the barricading of exposing the government's 'anti-farmer face.'
- Who
- Samyukt Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) farmers led by Jagjit Singh Dallewal, Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Gurnam Singh Chaduni, and Haryana Police
- What
- Haryana Police sealed the Khanauri border point to prevent farmers from marching to Delhi in a 228-km 'Kisan Bachao Padyatra'
- Where
- Khanauri inter-state border point between Haryana and Punjab, India
- When
- Sunday, August 16 (reported by PTI)
- Why
- Farmers oppose the proposed India-US trade deal and demand a legal guarantee for crop procurement at MSP
Farmers (SKM Non-Political)
Haryana Government/Police
Right to March
Farmers (SKM Non-Political)
Farmers have the right to march peacefully to Delhi to raise concerns; the heavy barricading exposes the government's anti-farmer face and shows the government, not farmers, blocks roads.
Haryana Government/Police
Farmers do not have permission for the march; prohibitory orders have been clamped and security arrangements are necessary.
India-US Trade Deal Impact
Farmers (SKM Non-Political)
The deal would allow cheaper agricultural imports, hurting domestic farm incomes; small farmers cannot compete with large American farms, and dairy, food security, MSP and procurement systems could come under international pressure.
Haryana Government/Police
The government has not publicly justified the deal in these articles; it is implied the deal is beneficial or not harmful.
Meeting with Officials
Farmers (SKM Non-Political)
The Haryana chief minister cannot address the trade deal issue; farmers want a meeting with the Union agriculture minister.
Haryana Government/Police
Officials offered a meeting with the Haryana chief minister and asked farmers to reduce the number of marchers.
Key facts
- Event
- Kisan Bachao Padyatra (farmers' foot march)
- Distance
- 228 km from Data Singh Wala to Jantar Mantar, Delhi
- Organizer
- Samyukt Kisan Morcha (Non-Political)
- Leader
- Jagjit Singh Dallewal
- Participants
- 51 farmers and around 200 volunteers/supporters
- Culmination
- Farmers' panchayat in Delhi on August 29
- Key Demands
- Exclude agriculture, dairy, poultry, fisheries from India-US trade deal; legal MSP guarantee (Swaminathan Commission C2+50% formula)
- Talks
- Three rounds of talks with Haryana officials remained inconclusive
Quotes
Jagjit Singh Dallewal
SKM (Non-Political) leader leading the farmers' march
“This barricading has exposed the BJP government. On earlier occasions, they had a problem when farmers came with tractors. Now, when only a small group of farmers wants to march on foot to go to Delhi, they still have a problem and are not allowing us to proceed. This exposes the anti‑farmer face of the government. Our plan was to proceed peacefully, but they have put up such heavy barricading. Everyone should now know that it is not the farmers who block the roads, but the government.”
theprint.in
indianexpress.com
“"Our main issue is the India-US trade deal. CM saab is not capable of addressing this issue. Nothing will come out of a meeting with him. The Union agriculture minister should hold a meeting with us. If the agriculture minister gives time to us in the next few days, we will sit here peacefully until then,"”
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