In a charged atmosphere marked by escalating tensions, protesting farmers in Punjab, under the banner of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), on Friday accepted the invitation of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann for talks, while refusing to back down from their demand for swift paddy procurement. The farmers, along with rice millers and arhtiyas (commission agents), have made Kisan Bhawan in Chandigarh their center of protest, vowing to stay until their demands are met.
The protest, sparked by delays in paddy procurement at government mandis (grain markets) across the State, had been gaining momentum for days. Farmers, rice millers, and arhtiyas (commission agents) — each representing critical stakeholders in the paddy procurement process — came together to march towards the Chief Minister’s residence in Chandigarh. However, their plans were thwarted early on Friday when Punjab Police detained several prominent farm leaders in Mohali district to prevent them from entering Chandigarh. Despite the police’s efforts, a few leaders managed to reach Kisan Bhawan in Chandigarh’s Sector 35, setting the stage for what would become a high-stakes confrontation.
Farm leaders, including Manjit Dhaner, Ruldu Singh Mansa, Angrej Singh, Tarsem Singh Bains, and Gurmeet Singh Mehma, were among those detained by the Punjab Police earlier in the day. The detentions were part of a broader strategy by the authorities to prevent a large-scale protest march to the Chief Minister’s residence. But the farmers were undeterred. Those who reached Kisan Bhawan declared it their base of operations, with heavy barricading and Rapid Action Force personnel stationed outside to monitor the situation.
“We will not turn back from here. We are here to hold talks with the CM tomorrow, but Kisan Bhawan will remain our protest center until our demands are addressed,” said Raminder Singh, a leader of Kirti Kisan Morcha, underscoring the resolve of the protestors to continue their agitation until they saw results.
Another prominent farmer leader Harinder Singh Lakhowal expressed frustration with the authorities’ attempts to contain the protest but remained optimistic about the upcoming meeting with the Chief Minister. “The Punjab Police and Chandigarh Police tried to stop us, but we have reached Chandigarh. We will not move back until the procurement process is expedited, and our concerns are resolved.”
Farmers’ Grievances
At the heart of the protest lies a complex web of issues tied to paddy procurement, a crucial component of Punjab’s agricultural economy. Farmers have alleged harassment due to the lack of available space in mandis to store paddy, with procurement agencies failing to clear the crops in a timely manner. This delay, farmers argued, is causing undue hardships, particularly at the height of the paddy harvest season.
Meanwhile, rice millers have refused to mill the paddy, citing various logistical challenges, though they have offered their storage space to the government to help with the procurement backlog. Arhtiyas are demanding that their commission rate be restored to 2.5 percent of the minimum support price (MSP) of paddy, a rate that was capped at Rs 46 per quintal a few years ago.
Govt’s Response
In response to the mounting pressure, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann extended an invitation for talks to the leaders of the SKM and the protesting associations. However, the Chief Minister was in Delhi for official engagements related to the state’s education sector, and the talks were scheduled for the following evening. While the farmers agreed to meet with Mann, they made it clear that they would not leave Chandigarh until concrete actions were taken to address the procurement delays.
“The CM has invited us for talks, and we will be meeting him tomorrow. But this protest will not end until procurement is expedited and we are satisfied,” reiterated Lakhowal. He claimed that around 200 to 300 protestors would remain at Kisan Bhawan until the meeting's outcome was clear.
The Punjab Government had also attempted to negotiate earlier in the day to prevent the protest from escalating. However, as the detentions unfolded and the protestors gathered at Kisan Bhawan, it became evident that the situation was reaching a tipping point.
The stand-off has brought to light the deeper tensions brewing within Punjab's agricultural sector. While the government has lifted over 10 percent of the 11.10 lakh tonnes of paddy that reached grain markets by mid-October, farmers argued that this is far from adequate, given that paddy was sown on 32 lakh hectares this year, with an estimated total production of 230 lakh tonnes.
As the protestors hold their ground, the situation remains fluid. With barricades surrounding Kisan Bhawan and police forces on alert, both the protestors and the Government are walking a tightrope. The outcome of the talks between the SKM leaders and Chief Minister is expected to determine the future course of action, with the stakes for Punjab’s farmers, millers, and commission agents hanging in the balance.
