The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Punjab, which once stood shoulder to shoulder with farmers in their protest against the Union’s farm laws, is now at the receiving end from the very community it once championed. In a dramatic turnaround, the Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab government has cracked down on protesting farmers, detaining key leaders and preventing a planned demonstration in Chandigarh. This shift in approach has left many questioning: What prompted this change of heart?
The conflict between the Mann government and the farmers escalated over the past three days. The breaking point came on March 3 when a meeting between farmer leaders and the Chief Minister at Punjab Bhawan in Chandigarh ended abruptly. Farmers accused Mann of inappropriate behavior, claiming he walked out of the discussion when they refused to call off their planned protest. The next day, Mann unapologetically defended his decision, declaring, “Yes, I left the meeting, and we will detain them as well. We won’t allow farmers to sit on tracks and roads. I am the custodian of the three crore people of Punjab.”
On March 5, Punjab Police acted on Mann’s warning and halted farmers at multiple checkpoints across the state, preventing them from reaching Chandigarh. Senior farmer leaders, including Balbir Singh Rajewal, Ruldu Singh Mansa, and Joginder Ugrahan, were detained. The crackdown has led to heightened tensions and sharp criticism of the Mann administration.
Why the Sudden Shift in AAP’s Stance on Farmers?
Not long ago, Bhagwant Mann himself mediated between farmer groups and the Centre. AAP leveraged its pro-farmer stance to secure a landslide victory in Punjab’s 2022 Assembly elections. So why has Mann’s government now turned against the same community?
Experts point to multiple factors
Declining Political Leverage of Farmer Movements
Professor Kuldip Singh of Guru Nanak Dev University believes that the farmers’ movement has lost some of its earlier momentum. “The government may feel that farmer organizations are not as powerful as they were a few years ago,” he said. This could explain why AAP is no longer as keen on appeasing them.
Public Discontent Over Continuous Protests
Regular road blockades and dharnas have reportedly led to growing frustration among Punjab’s urban population and traders. The Mann government appears to be shifting its focus from farmers to other sections of society. “The government might be thinking that they cannot keep farmers happy all the time, so at least they can please the other population,” Singh added.
AAP’s Political Calculations
Punjab’s AAP leadership may also be trying to reposition itself ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections. With growing political competition from Congress, BJP, and SAD, Mann is likely trying to project himself as a leader who prioritizes governance over protest politics.
Delhi Debacle and Kejriwal’s Absence
The timing of the crackdown also aligns with AAP’s political setbacks. The party recently suffered a crushing defeat in the Delhi Assembly elections, allowing the BJP to stage a strong comeback. Additionally, AAP’s poor performance in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, where it won only three out of 13 seats in Punjab, has prompted introspection within the party. With AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal missing from the public eye post-election, Mann has had to take firmer control of Punjab’s political narrative.
State vs. Union: Limited authority over Farmers’ demands
Economist Professor R.S. Bawa pointed out that many of the farmers’ demands, including the Minimum Support Price (MSP) guarantee, fall under the jurisdiction of the Central government, not the state. “The Mann government must have realized that it cannot fulfill all of the farmers’ demands on its own,” he said. By cracking down on protests, AAP may be trying to signal to the Union that it does not support disruptions in the name of agitation.
The sudden shift in AAP’s approach has led to a fierce backlash from farmer unions, opposition parties, and civil society groups. The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), which led the historic 2020-21 farm protests, has openly condemned the Punjab government’s actions, warning that “Mann’s government will not have enough jails if Punjab’s farmers decide to court arrest.” The BJP has accused Mann of “betraying the annadatas (food providers),” while Congress leaders, including MLA Pargat Singh, have criticised his handling of the crisis. “The Chief Minister should have listened to farmers instead of walking out. This situation could have been managed better,” Singh stated.
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