Leaders of the Qaumi Insaaf Morcha (QIM) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) Friday handed over a memorandum of demands to a senior official of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs at Shambhu border, and decided to go back from the Shambhu border.
Earlier in the day, protesters moved towards the Shambhu border for their “Dilli Chalo” march, even as the Punjab and Haryana governments closed the route in anticipation of the protest. The QIM and KMM had called the two-day march to raise issues concerning Sikh prisoners, intellectuals, and minority rights. The protest was also held as a tribute to the 350th anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur’s martyrdom.
Though the protesters reached close to the Shambhu toll barrier, which was heavily barricaded by the Ambala police by 11 am, they were not allowed to march ahead.
By around 3.30 pm, the protesters’ leaders handed over their memorandum of demands to Prashant S Lokhande, Joint Secretary, MHA, who was present at the spot along with the Ambala deputy commissioner and senior IPS officers.
“They came to the location where protesters were standing. Afterwards, we decided to move back. Our pakka morcha at YPS Chowk in Mohali has been ongoing since July 7, 2023, and will continue. Hence, we had decided not to start another indefinite dharna,” Gurdeep Singh Bathinda, the chief spokesperson of QIM, told The Indian Express.
“In a day or two, we will hold another meeting of all farmer union leaders and trade union leaders who supported Friday’s Dilli Chalo of QIM to decide the next course of action,” said Dr Darshan Pal, president of Krantikari Kisan Union and national coordination committee member of SKM.
Haryana and Punjab governments’ actions
Meanwhile, the highway remained closed to the general public throughout the day, and traffic was diverted through various routes as per the advisory issued by the Haryana Government.
However, the Punjab Government did not prevent the groups from marching up to the Shambhu border — the most commonly used highway route between Punjab and Delhi. The Shambhu toll plaza falls in Haryana’s territory.
Ranjit Singh Kaler of the Kisan Mazdoor Sangarsh Committee, who was at the spot, said earlier, “We were not stopped anywhere by the Punjab Police, though there were diversions for the general public to take other routes as the highway has been closed by the Haryana Government from its side from 7 am to 6 pm today,” added Kaler.
Protesters were heard shouting slogans of “Qaumi Insaaf Morcha Zindabad,” “Bandi Singh Riha Karo,” and “Central Sarkar Murdabad.”
Avtar Singh Mehma of the Krantikari Kisan Union said, “We want to march towards Delhi, but the Haryana Police have barricaded the highway, and they are not allowing us to go ahead.”
None of the protesters opted to travel by train to Delhi, and insisted on marching through the Shambhu border.
‘Don’t want any conflict with Punjab or Haryana Police’
Earlier in the day, as the first trolley reached Shambhu, the police did not allow it to go ahead, and made the driver park the vehicle on the service road.
“We are on our way to the Shambhu border, as we have to reach the Prime Minister’s residence in Delhi. We are going to our national capital… Let’s see what they will do,” said Gurdeep Singh Bathinda, chief spokesperson of QIM, while speaking to The Indian Express.
He added that despite barricades put up by the Punjab Government, even on November 10, to stop them from reaching Panjab University, Chandigarh, they had still managed to move ahead. “We don’t want any conflict with Punjab or Haryana Police, but we do not want to be stopped either. We will stage a dharna wherever we are halted,” he said.
Sarwan Singh Pandher, coordinator of KMM, said members of the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee — a constituent of KMM — had already started travelling towards Shambhu on the National Highway 44. “We are surprised by the response of the Punjab Government. What can we say about Haryana?” he said.
Surjeet Singh Phool, president of the Krantikari Kisan Union, another constituent of the KMM, added, “Vehicles have started moving… let’s see where they stop us.”
Meanwhile, the Haryana Police have issued a traffic advisory, announcing the closure of the Rajpura–Ambala–Delhi highway at Shambhu from 7 am to 6 pm on November 14. Commuters have been urged to take alternative routes and cooperate to ensure smooth traffic movement.
The Punjab Police have closed this highway from 7 am to 6 pm in an effort to prevent protesters from reaching the highway.
In 2024, farmers under the banner of KMM and SKM Non-Political had staged a dharna at the Shambhu and Khanauri borders from February 13 to March 19, 2025, when they were stopped from marching ahead towards Delhi.
At that time, farmers were demanding Minimum Support Price (MSP) as a legal guarantee, which remains pending.
Farmers from Zira (Ferozepur) to march towards Delhi via Shambhu border. (Express Photo) 
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