Hundreds of farmers, who had been protesting at the Punjab and Haryana borders, have decided to head back home. The Haryana government has agreed to release detained farmer leaders and arrange a meeting with Union Minister Shivraj Chouhan regarding concerns over the proposed India-US trade deal.
Haryana Agriculture Minister Shyam Singh Rana assured the farmers of a meeting with Union Minister Shivraj Chouhan within a week or 10 days. The farmers’ leaders have been released, leading to the decision to peacefully disperse and return home.
After a meeting with the Agriculture Minister, the farmers were assured that their demands would be forwarded to the appropriate authorities for resolution. The release of leader Gurnam Singh Chaduni is also being addressed to ensure a prompt resolution.
Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala criticized the government for stopping farmers from reaching the national capital for a protest against the trade deal. The farmers, who were stopped at the Shambhu border, were heading to Delhi in a peaceful manner, expressing concerns over the impact of the trade agreement on agriculture.
Security measures have been increased at various borders to prevent the protest from reaching Delhi, as farmers fear the trade deal will have negative consequences on the agricultural sector.
