Farmer leaders Jagjit Dallewal, Sarwan Pandher detained after talks fail

Hours after the seventh round of talks between farmer leaders and the Union government failed to yield an agreement, Punjab Police have detained prominent farmer leaders Jagjit Singh Dallewal and Sarwan Singh Pandher in Mohali on Wednesday, 19 March.

The detention came amid clashes between farmers and security personnel as protesters attempted to march towards the Shambhu and Khanauri borders, where demonstrations have been ongoing since February last year.

The crackdown on farmer leaders signals a hardening stance by the administration, raising concerns about the government’s handling of agrarian distress and protests.

The Punjab Police intervened when a group of farmers, defying restrictions, attempted to advance towards the border points.

Tensions escalated as security forces set up barricades, leading to confrontations. In response to the unrest, authorities suspended internet services in Khanauri and the surrounding districts of Sangrur and Patiala as a precautionary measure.

Along with Dallewal and Pandher, other farmer leaders — including Abhimanyu Kohar and Kaka Singh Kotda — were also taken into custody.

Their detention follows months of sustained protests demanding a legal guarantee for a minimum support price (MSP) on 24 crops.

The repeated arrests and detentions of farmer leaders have fuelled anger within the protest movement, with farmer unions accusing the government of using coercion instead of dialogue to suppress their voices.

The government has reportedly devised a strategy to reopen the Shambhu and Khanauri border points, instructing protesters to vacate the areas. However, farmer unions have remained steadfast in their demands, insisting on concrete assurances from the central government. The growing trust deficit between the government and the farmers has made negotiations increasingly difficult.

Earlier in the day, the seventh round of negotiations between farmer leaders and the central delegation concluded in Chandigarh, with Union agriculture minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan announcing that discussions would continue on 4 May 4.

"A positive discussion took place in a cordial atmosphere. The talks will continue. The next meeting will take place on 4 May," claimed Chouhan after the meeting.

However, farmer leaders expressed skepticism, stating that previous discussions have resulted in mere assurances rather than concretesolutions.

Consumer affairs minister Prahlad Joshi and commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal also participated in the talks, held at the Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Public Administration in Chandigarh. Punjab finance minister Harpal Singh Cheema and agriculture minister Gurmeet Singh Khuddian represented the state government.

This meeting follows previous negotiations, including those held on 22 February and 14 February, which also failed to break the deadlock. Before that, four rounds of discussions in February 2024 had similarly ended without resolution.

The stalemate reflects the deep divide between the government’s approach and the farmers’ expectations. With tensions rising at the protest sites and talks remaining inconclusive, the situation at the borders remains volatile.