Farmer unions have issued a stern ultimatum to the Centre ahead of the crucial May 4 meeting in Chandigarh. The Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) have categorically asked the Centre to keep Punjab Government representatives out of the scheduled meeting in Chandigarh, warning that any participation by Punjab Ministers would compel them to boycott the talks altogether.
Citing “betrayal” by the Punjab Government as the main reason, the farmer unions conveyed their strong reservations in a letter addressed to the Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Sunday. Confirming the development, SKM (Non-Political) spokesperson Abhimanyu Kohar said that the letter outlined the reasons behind the farmers' demand and seeks a prompt written response from the Centre.
The farmer bodies stressed that while they remain committed to dialogue as the only path to resolving agriculture-related issues, the “betrayal” they faced following the previous meeting on March 19 has left them with no choice but to insist on the exclusion of Punjab Ministers.
The Betrayal After Mar 19 Meeting
According to the unions, the March 19 meeting between the farmers and the government had ended amicably, with both sides agreeing to reconvene on May 4 to continue discussions. However, immediately after the meeting, the Punjab Government allegedly arrested key farmer leaders, including Jagjit Singh Dallewal — who has been observing fast at that time for more than 100 days and was under medical supervision; and forcefully dismantled the ongoing dharnas at Shambhu and Khanauri borders, enraging farmers across the country.
“The Punjab Government, in an act of deception and highhandedness, arrested farmer leaders under false pretenses and brutally cleared protest sites,” said Dallewal, convenor of SKM (Non-Political). “This act was not only a betrayal of the farmers' trust but also a direct assault on their dignity and self-respect,” he added.
The farmers alleged that during the police action on March 19, hundreds of protesters were taken into custody, and many of their vehicles and personal belongings went missing. Protest sites on National Highways NH-44 and NH-52 were forcibly cleared, marking a violent end to a months-long peaceful agitation that had started on February 13, 2024.
Centre's Responsibility
The farmer unions pointed out that the March 19 meeting had been convened on the basis of a written invitation from the Central Government. Thus, they argued, the Centre also bore responsibility for ensuring that no coercive action would be taken against the farmers who participated in good faith.
“It is crucial to underline that our participation in the talks was based on the Centre’s assurance of a fair process,” said Abhimanyu Kohar, adding, “The subsequent crackdown by the Punjab Government reflects poorly not only on the state but also questions the Centre's seriousness in engaging with farmers honestly.”
Given these developments, the unions said that it was untenable for them to sit across the table with Punjab Government officials again. They categorically demanded that the Centre bar Punjab Ministers from participating in the May 4 talks.
Speculation Over Meeting Venue
Following the farmers’ warning, there is intense speculation over whether the Centre will stick to the Chandigarh venue or shift the talks to Delhi. In the March 19 meeting, Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema, Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian, and Consumer Affairs Minister Lal Chand Kataruchak had been present, a continuation of the Punjab Government's earlier role as a mediator during previous negotiation rounds.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann himself had participated in earlier rounds of talks in February 2024, positioning himself as a champion of farmers’ interests. However, the March crackdown has deeply damaged the state's credibility with the protesting unions.
Farmers Stand Firm on Core Demands
The SKM (Non-Political) and KMM reiterated that they remain committed to pursuing their demands through dialogue — provided that the environment is free of mistrust and betrayal. Their key demands include a legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price (MSP) on all crops, comprehensive loan waivers to address rural indebtedness, and safeguards against international trade agreements that could harm Indian farmers.
Leaders such as Jagjit Singh Dallewal, Sarwan Singh Pandher, Sukhjit Singh Hardojhande, Sukhwinder Kaur, and others who signed the letter emphasized that their fight is for the survival and dignity of India's farmers and not for any political mileage.
“If Punjab Ministers are allowed to attend the May 4 meeting, we will, unfortunately, have no choice but to walk away,” said Sarwan Singh Pandher, adding, “The farmers’ anger is real, and we cannot ignore the sentiments of thousands who were humiliated on March 19.”
Centre Yet to Respond
As of now, the Union Agriculture Ministry has not formally responded to the letter. Farmers’ unions have requested a prompt written clarification so that they can prepare accordingly for the May 4 meeting.
Notably, farmers — under the banner of SKM (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) — had been staging sit-in protests at the Shambhu and Khanauri borders since February 13, 2024. These demonstrations were forcefully cleared on March 19, 2025, shortly after the conclusion of the seventh round of talks with the Centre. On that day, hundreds of farmers were arrested, though most were released by March 28. During the police action, National Highways NH-44 and NH-52 were reopened, with farmers alleging that many of their trolleys and personal belongings were lost or damaged in the process.
Earlier rounds of negotiations between the farmer unions and the Centre had taken place on February 8, 12, 15, and 18 in 2024, and subsequently on February 14, 22, and March 19 in 2025.
