The standoff between Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and farmer leaders has intensified after a failed meeting meant to resolve grievances ahead of the March 5 protest. The meeting, convened by the Punjab government, was aimed at persuading farmer unions affiliated with the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) to withdraw their planned demonstration. However, tensions escalated when Mann allegedly dismissed their concerns and abruptly left the meeting, leading to strong reactions from the farmer leaders.
Balbir Singh Rajewal, a senior farmer leader, accused Mann of losing his temper during discussions. According to Rajewal, the conversation had initially been constructive, with various issues being addressed, but Mann suddenly became agitated and walked out, telling the farmers to "do whatever you want on the 5th, protest if you must." This reaction left the farmers frustrated, as they had hoped for a concrete resolution to their longstanding demands.
Following the meeting, Bhagwant Mann took to social media to issue a public appeal, urging farmer unions to reconsider their approach. He emphasized that roadblocks, railway disruptions, and a Punjab Bandh would not lead to meaningful solutions but would instead inconvenience the common people and affect businesses. His statement suggested that while the government was open to dialogue, it was not in favor of disruptive protest tactics.
However, Mann’s stance did not sit well with opposition leaders, particularly those from the Congress. Former Punjab minister Pargat Singh launched a scathing attack on Mann, accusing him of disrespecting the state's farmers. He claimed that no Punjab Chief Minister in history had treated farmers with such disregard and alleged that Mann’s actions were in line with the BJP’s agenda to polarize and defame the farmer movement. Pargat Singh further argued that if Mann truly cared about Punjab’s interests, he would have taken action against the BJP-led Haryana government, which has been blocking Punjab’s borders for the past year.
The core of the dispute lies in the farmers' demands, many of which they claim were previously agreed upon but remain unfulfilled. Out of 17 key issues raised by the unions, the Punjab government had reportedly assured action on 13, including forming a subcommittee for agricultural concerns, offering a one-time settlement scheme for NABARD loans, waiving electricity bills for water motors on the Sirhind Feeder Canal from January 2023, and resolving land lease issues by the 2024-25 financial year.
Other demands include issuing rifle licenses to farmers for protection against stray animals, implementing prepaid electricity meters, banning forced purchases of nano-packaging and other mandatory products, compensating sugarcane farmers for flood damage, removing restrictions on opening new accounts in cooperative societies, forming additional subcommittees for further agricultural issues, and addressing land-related concerns under the National Land Research Act.
With the March 5 protest still on the horizon, tensions remain high. Farmer unions are determined to go ahead with their demonstration, while the Punjab government is urging restraint. The unresolved grievances have once again highlighted the broader conflict between the state government and Punjab’s powerful farmer community, a sector that has historically played a crucial role in national protests against agricultural policies.
As both sides dig in their heels, it remains to be seen whether any last-minute negotiations can prevent the escalation of protests, or if Punjab will witness yet another large-scale farmer agitation.
