Farmers stopped at Punjab-Haryana border en route to Delhi rally against India-U.S. trade deal

Punjab farmers under the banner of ‘Desh Bachao Morcha’ (save the country rally) were stopped by police at Shambhu-Ambala and Khanauri-Jind, the inter-state borders between Haryana and Punjab, on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, as they were heading towards Delhi to take part in a rally against the proposed India-US trade deal. The farmers later ended their protest and announced that they would return after receiving assurance that their demands would be taken up with the Centre.

Farmers trying to enter Haryana with their vehicles and buses encountered multi-layered barricades erected by the Haryana Police at the interstate borders. Ambala police have issued a traffic alert asking people to use alternative routes due to the closure of Shambhu-Ambala road at the inter-state border.

Farmer leader and Desh Bachao Morcha coordinator Sarwan Singh Pandher said farmers wanted to go to Delhi peacefully and participate in the rally, but the Haryana government led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) stopped them by setting up barricades. “We are ready to talk to the local government and are not in the mood for conflict,” he said.

Farmer leader and Desh Bachao Morcha coordinator Sarwan Singh Pandher said farmers do not want any conflict. “Haryana Agriculture Minister assured that the detained farmers will be released immediately and a meeting will be held with Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. After this, we completed our protests in Shambhu and Khanauri,” he said.

“If our concerns continue to be ignored and the agreement is pushed forward, the movement will intensify,” he added.

Farmers affiliated with Desh Bachao Morcha, the umbrella body of farmer unions from different states of the country, announced that they would hold a rally in New Delhi on July 21. The India-US trade deal is not limited to imports and exports of just a few products, Desh Bachao Morcha said, adding that the agreement could instead cover many important sectors, including agriculture, dairy, industry, digital trade, services, intellectual property rights, energy, investment and market access.

Meanwhile, a major trade body has expressed concern over the economic, industrial and public hardships caused by the repeated closure of the ‘Shambahu Border’ due to the ongoing protest by farmers.

Badish Jindal, Chairman of All Industries and Trade Forum, said in a statement that the repeated closure of the Shambhu Border, one of the busiest transport corridors connecting Punjab with Haryana, Delhi and the rest of India, has forced vehicles to travel on long alternative routes, leading to a significant increase in transport costs, fuel consumption and transit time.

“Industries are facing delays in the procurement of raw materials and dispatch of finished goods, leading to cancellation of orders, violation of delivery commitments, increased logistics expenses and loss of competitiveness in local and international markets. Punjab is already witnessing industrial migration to neighboring states due to various challenges. The ongoing disruption of one of the state’s most important transport corridors further weakens the confidence of investors and creates the impression that industrial and commercial activities in Punjab are becoming increasingly difficult. We urge the government to ask farmer organizations to change the location of the protest. The most important in northern India “To a location that will not completely block one of the transportation corridors,” he said.

Farmers affiliated with Desh Bachao Morcha, the umbrella organization of farmer unions from different states of the country, announced that they would hold a rally in New Delhi on July 21.

The India-US trade agreement is not limited to imports and exports of just a few products, Desh Bachao Morcha said, adding that the agreement could instead cover many important sectors, including agriculture, dairy, industry, digital commerce, services, intellectual property rights, energy, investment and market access.