Punjab farmers sat on a protest near the Chandigarh-Mohali border on Tuesday (May 17) after being stopped from heading to the state capital to press the AAP government with various demands, including a bonus on wheat and beginning paddy sowing from June 10. In an ultimatum to the Punjab government, farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal said if Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann does not hold a meeting with the protesters by Wednesday to redress their grievances, they will move towards Chandigarh breaking barricades.
A heavy contingent of police was deployed at the Chandigarh-Mohali border in the wake of several farmer bodies’ call for an indefinite protest in the Union Territory over their demands.
The Mohali police put up barricades and tippers and rolled out water cannons to prevent protesting farmers from entering Chandigarh. The Chandigarh police too made similar security arrangements.
“It is the start of our struggle in Punjab and it will continue till our demands are met. Only 25 per cent of farmers have come here so far. More will come tomorrow. It is a do or die battle,” said a farmer leader.