FARMERS' AGITATION AT SHAMBHU BORDER PROLONGS DEADLOCK ON NH-44

The farmers' agitation at the Shambhu border between Haryana and Punjab on National Highway 44 (NH44), now in its ninth month, has led to a prolonged deadlock on one of India's busiest highways.

- NEERAJ MOHAN

This standoff continues to disrupt traffic flow between Delhi, Punjab, and Jammu and Kashmir, significantly impacting movement along this vital route.

With over 50,000 vehicles typically using this essential route daily, the blockade has strained local businesses, interrupted commuters, and showcased the persistence of the farmers, who refuse to back down despite dwindling numbers.

Since 13 February, when the current wave of the protest began, the Haryana police have maintained a blockade, preventing the farmers from advancing toward Delhi, where they hope to rekindle the momentum of their 2020-21 protests.

The farmers demand a legal guarantee on minimum support price (MSP) for all 23 notified crops-a promise they believe was left unfulfilled from the previous 2020-21 protests—as well as other key concessions such as loan waivers and pension schemes for farmers and labourers.

Despite the commitment of those at the Shambhu border, the prolonged standstill has started wearing down both the protestors and local stakeholders. Many farmers have been living in tractor trailers converted into makeshift shelters, and though fewer in number, they continue to hold their ground. "There is no way back. Either we move forward or the government meets our demands.

We can't go back now," said Baldev Singh, a farmer from Amritsar, illustrating the mood among the remaining protestors.