Shambhu (Punjab/Haryana Border), July 21, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Hundreds of farmers from Punjab were stopped by the Haryana Police at the Shambhu border on Tuesday while marching towards Delhi to participate in a Kisan Mahapanchayat protesting the proposed India-US bilateral trade agreement.
The farmers, travelling in convoys from different parts of Punjab, were prevented from entering Haryana after the police erected barricades at the Punjab-Haryana border. The scene evoked memories of the “Delhi Chalo-2” agitation of February 2024, when the Shambhu border was heavily fortified with concrete blocks, iron spikes and multiple layers of barricades to stop protesting farmers from heading towards the national capital.
Farmers Stage Protest at Shambhu
After being denied passage, the farmers turned the Shambhu border into a protest site, accusing both the Haryana and Punjab governments of obstructing their democratic right to peacefully assemble in Delhi.
Bharatiya Kisan Union (Shaheed Bhagat Singh) leader Tezveer Singh alleged that Haryana Police had erected barricades inside Punjab’s territory. He also criticised the Punjab government, claiming it remained a “silent spectator” instead of opposing the action.
While Punjab farmers were stopped at the border, farmers from Haryana, including those from Ambala, Kurukshetra and nearby districts, continued their journey to Delhi to attend the Mahapanchayat.
Mahapanchayat Against Proposed Trade Pact
The Mahapanchayat has been convened under the banner of the Desh Bachao Morcha, bringing together farmer organisations from Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh to oppose the proposed India-US trade agreement.
Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee (KMSC) leader Sarwan Singh Pandher said convoys of the KMSC, Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (Punjab chapter), Azaad Kisan Morcha and BKU Ekta Sangharsh had departed from different parts of Punjab before being stopped at the Shambhu border.
Concerns Over India-US Trade Negotiations
Pandher said the India-US joint statement issued in February 2026 committed both countries to negotiate the first phase of a multi-sector bilateral trade agreement by the fall of 2026.
According to the farmer leader, the proposed agreement extends well beyond conventional trade and could include negotiations covering agriculture, dairy, industry, digital trade, e-commerce, investment, government procurement, intellectual property rights and the services sector.
Farmer organisations expressed concern that previous US trade reports have consistently advocated greater access to India’s agriculture and dairy markets by seeking lower tariffs and fewer import restrictions on products such as soybeans, maize, cotton, ethanol, apples, almonds, dairy products, poultry and fisheries.
They argued that opening India’s markets to heavily subsidised American agricultural and dairy products would severely affect millions of India’s small and marginal farmers, who would struggle to compete with cheaper imports.
The unions also questioned the lack of transparency in the ongoing negotiations, alleging that key details of the proposed trade agreement have not been placed in the public domain.
Demand for Transparency
The Desh Bachao Morcha demanded that the Union Government make all documents related to the proposed India-US trade agreement public and refrain from signing any agreement without holding comprehensive consultations with farmers, dairy producers, workers, small traders and other stakeholders.
Farmer organisations further pointed out that India’s dairy sector supports nearly 80 million rural families, warning that any adverse impact on the sector would have widespread consequences for rural livelihoods, agri-based industries, food processors and small enterprises.
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