Haryana Police seal Shambhu border as Punjab farmers head to Delhi for Kisan Mahapanchayat

Haryana Police on Tuesday sealed the Shambhu border point and stepped up security to prevent farmers from Punjab from travelling to Delhi to participate in the proposed Kisan Mahapanchayat against the IndiaUS trade dealFarmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher criticised the Haryana government for blocking the movement of farmers alleging that they were being stopped despite planning to travel peacefully to the national capitalHeavy security at Shambhu borderA large police force was deployed at the Shambhu border connecting Punjab and Haryana Authorities erected multiple barricades and placed cement blocks on the bridge over the Ghaggar River to restrict the movement of vehicles carrying farmersWATCH A large number of farmers reach Shambhu Border PunjabHaryana border ahead of their scheduled march to Delhi today Visuals from Patiala Punjab side pictwittercomdJtdEt0qtimdash ANI ANI July 21 2026The security arrangements came ahead of the daylong Kisan Mahapanchayat scheduled to be held at Kisan Ghat in Delhi under the banner of the Desh Bachao Morcha Farmer organisations have announced that representatives from Punjab Haryana and several other states would participate in the gatheringFarmers from different districts of Punjab had planned to travel to Delhi in buses to attend the eventFarmer leaders criticise Haryana governmentSpeaking to reporters in Fatehgarh Sahib before beginning the journey Pandher accused the Haryana government of preventing farmers from exercising their democratic right to protestHe alleged that the police action exposed the true face of Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini referring to the Chief Ministers visits to Punjab and his assurances to the states residentsPandher reiterated the farmers demand that the proposed IndiaUS trade agreement should be completely withdrawnHe also said that the next course of action would be decided after consultations with other farmer leaders once they reached the Shambhu borderConvoy begins journey from Fatehgarh SahibThe convoy of farmers started its journey from Gurdwara Sri Fatehgarh Sahib on Tuesday morning after more than 1000 farmers spent the previous night at the pilgrims accommodation within the gurdwara complexThe convoy first travelled to Madhopur near Sirhind on the Grand Trunk Road before proceeding towards the Shambhu border where security had been significantly tightenedDetentions ahead of MahapanchayatThe latest developments come a day after Bharatiya Kisan Union Charuni chief Gurnam Singh Charuni was detained by Haryana Police in Kurukshetra while travelling to Delhi for the MahapanchayatThe organisations spokesperson Prince Waraich had alleged that Haryana Police detained several workers to prevent them from joining the protest in DelhiFarmers oppose proposed IndiaUS trade dealFarmer organisations have maintained that the proposed IndiaUS trade agreement could allow cheaper agricultural imports into India which they fear would adversely impact domestic farmers incomes and weaken the countrys agricultural sectorAccording to farmer groups the proposed trade pact could also affect agricultural labourers livestock rearers small traders and microscale industries by increasing competition from imported productsThe protesting organisations have urged the Central government to withdraw the proposed trade agreement arguing that it should prioritise protecting the interests of farmers and other sections dependent on agriculture They have called for immediate intervention to address their concerns and prevent what they describe as adverse consequences for the rural economyWith inputs from PTI