Chandigarh, March 7 – The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab, once a strong ally of the farmers’ movement, now finds itself at odds with the very community that helped propel it to power. Clashes erupted across Punjab on Wednesday as farmers attempted to march toward Chandigarh for a week-long sit-in protest against the state and central governments. Their demands include a legal guarantee for Minimum Support Prices (MSP), loan waivers, and higher farm incomes.
Protests Meet Police Crackdown
The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), which spearheaded the 2021 protests against farm laws, said hundreds of farmers were detained Tuesday in an unprecedented police crackdown. According to an SKM statement, around 350 farmer leaders were arrested across Punjab, while key entry points to Chandigarh were sealed off.
Tensions escalated as Punjab Police prevented farmers from leaving their villages, blocking roads and detaining protest leaders. In response, farmers staged sit-in demonstrations at multiple locations where they had been stopped.
The protests add to the ongoing agitations at Shambhu and Khanauri borders, where two breakaway factions of SKM have been demonstrating since February last year.
Mann’s Tougher Stance
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, who once stood with farmers at Delhi’s Singhu border, has now taken a hardline stance. Defending the crackdown, he said, “I am the custodian of all 3.5 crore people of Punjab, not just the farmers. Their protests inconvenience traders, businessmen, students, and employees.”
Mann accused farmer unions of engaging in “competitive protests” and acting like a “parallel government.” He dismissed further talks, stating, “Why waste my time on table talks when there is going to be no let-up in dharnas?”
His frustration became evident during a March 3 meeting with SKM leaders. Halfway through the discussion, he abruptly walked out, reportedly angered by the farmers’ refusal to call off their protest plans.
Political Fallout
Mann’s shift has triggered widespread criticism from the opposition.
Congress leader Partap Singh Bajwa accused Mann of arrogance and urged AAP to replace him.
BJP MP Ravneet Singh Bittu likened the situation to an “Emergency” in Punjab.
Akali Dal President Sukhbir Singh Badal condemned Mann’s “dictatorial methods”, calling his actions a crude attempt to stifle the voice of farmers.
Congress MLA Pargat Singh accused Mann of furthering the BJP’s agenda, while senior Akali leader Bikram Singh Majithia questioned the CM’s mental stability.
Farmers Remain Defiant
Despite the crackdown, farmers remain steadfast. Farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who has been on a 100-day hunger strike, continues to lead protests at Khanauri, while Sarwan Singh Pandher heads the agitation at Shambhu. Both groups demand MSP guarantees and other reforms.
Experts warn that alienating the farming community could have long-term political consequences for AAP in Punjab. Political analyst Professor Kuldip Singh suggests Mann’s shift is a calculated move to gain urban support, but cautions that no government in Punjab can ignore farmers’ concerns for long.
As tensions rise, the Punjab government faces a crucial test—whether to maintain its hardline approach or seek a compromise before the unrest spirals further.
