Punjab: Farmers’ fury turns to AAP

The Samyukta Kisan Morcha's (SKM) 'Plan B' has become a major headache for the Punjab government.

Farmers are now staging protests outside the residences of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLAs and MPs across districts. In a significant escalation, farmer organisations have declared that AAP leaders will be barred from entering villages and will face a complete boycott.

While the farmers' primary struggle remains with the Central government over demands such as a legal guarantee for MSP (minimum support price), tensions with the Punjab government have transformed the movement into a direct confrontation between farmers and AAP.

Initially, farmer organisations had planned a march to Chandigarh on 5 March — to mark the 100th day of veteran Kisan Mazdoor Morcha leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal’s hunger strike at the Shambhu border point.

Two days before the scheduled protest, Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Singh Mann invited farmer leaders for talks. However, the discussions collapsed midway. According to farmer leaders, Mann abruptly left the meeting, stating that Punjab would not be allowed to turn into a protest site. “Do what you can," Mann allegedly said before walking out in a huff.

On 5 March, as farmers attempted to march to Chandigarh, they were stopped at the border with Haryana. Those who managed to move ahead were blocked at Mohali. In a further crackdown, key SKM leaders were arrested ahead of the protest. Prominent figures such as Balbir Singh Rajewal, Omkar Singh Agol and Rulda Singh Mansa were detained first, followed by the arrests of other farmer leaders at the district level. 

Following this, farmer organisations shifted their strategy, opting to target AAP leaders at the district level. This phase of the movement began on 10 March, with protesters staging four-hour sit-ins outside the residences of 80 AAP MLAs and ministers across various districts.

In Jalandhar, they demonstrated outside the home of minister Mohinder Bhagat, while in Sangrur, they gathered outside MLA Narinder Singh Bharaj’s residence. Similar protests took place outside the homes of MLA Dev Mann in Nabha and Amansher Singh Shari in Batala. The list is extensive, with reports of demonstrations emerging from nearly every district.

Farmer leaders assert that they will soon escalate the agitation, further intensifying pressure on the AAP-led Punjab government. The state government, however, has yet to reveal a clear strategy to address the growing unrest.

The ongoing protests, which initially targeted the Union government, have now clearly turned their focus on the AAP in Punjab. The SKM and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, once united in their demands against the Centre, have redirected their anger toward the state government owing to its handling of the agitation.

This shift has provided some relief to the Union government, which would have otherwise faced the full brunt of the protests. Many observers believe the AAP could have avoided this confrontation with a more strategic approach, but its actions have now made it target number one for the farmers' organisations.