Leaders of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) have alleged that Punjab police conducted early morning raids at the homes of several farmer leaders on Tuesday, detaining many of them ahead of their planned protest in Chandigarh on March 5. However, the police have not yet responded to these claims. According to farmer leaders, this police action comes just a day after talks between Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and SKM representatives broke down. Fearing further detentions, some leaders have reportedly gone underground.

The SKM has announced a week-long sit-in protest in Chandigarh starting March 5, demanding the withdrawal of the Centre’s National Policy Framework on Agricultural Marketing, a legal guarantee for MSP as recommended by the Swaminathan Commission, implementation of Punjab’s agricultural policy, and state procurement of six crops at MSP. Other demands include a law for debt settlement, fair distribution of canal water, clearing of sugarcane arrears, and stopping the forced land acquisitions under the Bharatmala project.

Bharti Kisan Union (Lakhowal) general secretary Harinder Singh Lakhowal condemned the alleged raids, stating that such actions cannot suppress the farmers' movement. "It is our democratic right to protest," he asserted, urging farmers to gather in large numbers in Chandigarh. He also claimed that police officers had been stationed outside his house. Similarly, BKU (Rajewal) vice president Mukesh Chander Sharma alleged that police raided his home at 4 AM, calling the action unjustified.

The breakdown in talks between the Punjab government and SKM leaders has further escalated tensions. Farmer leaders claim that CM Bhagwant Mann abruptly walked out of the meeting, angered by their demands. However, Mann later stated that he remains open to dialogue but urged farmers to avoid causing inconvenience to the public during their protests.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from PTI.