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

Punjab-based farmers under the banner of the Desh Bachao Morcha (DBM)were on Tuesday (July 21, 2026) stopped by the police at Shambhu-Ambala and Khanauri-Jind, the inter-State boundaries between Haryana and Punjab, as they headed to Delhi to participate in rally against the the proposed India-U.S. trade deal.

Several farmers from Haryana began moving on foot towards Delhi after their vehicles and buses were stopped by the police at different places.

Multi-layer barricades have been installed by the Haryana police at the inter-State boundaries as farmers attempted to enter Haryana in their vehicles and buses. The Ambala police has issued a traffic advisory, asking people to take alternate roads as the Shambhu-Ambala road has been closed at the boundary.

Farmer leader and coordinator of DBM, Sarwan Singh Pandher, said that farmers want to peacefully go to Delhi and participate in the rally, but the BJP-led Haryana government has stopped farmers by erecting barricades. “We are ready to talk to the local administration and are in no mood for confrontation,” he said.

Meanwhile, Bharatiya Kisan Union (Charuni) president Gurnam Singh Charuni was allegedly detained by police in Kurukshetra in Haryana on July 20 as he headed to Delhi for the rally. BKU (Charuni) spokesperson Prince Waraich told media persons that Mr. Charuni’s vehicle was intercepted by police near Pehowa. BKU (Charuni) is a member outfit of the DBM.

“We urge the Central government to prioritise the interests of farmers, workers, small traders, small industries and India’s economic and food sovereignty and refrain from implementing any agreement that goes against the interests of the people,” he said.

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

Farmers associated with DBM, an umbrella body of farmer unions from different States, had announced a rally in New Delhi on Tuesday (July 21, 2026). The DBM noted that the deal is not limited merely to the import and export of a few products; instead, it may cover several crucial sectors, including agriculture, dairy, industry, digital trade, services, intellectual property rights, energy, investment and market access.