Chandigarh, March 22 -- A crucial meeting between the Punjab Government and farmer unions, scheduled for 4 pm on Friday at Punjab Bhawan, Chandigarh, was called off after major farmer organizations refused to participate, escalating tensions between the two sides.
The Punjab chapter of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) - the pan-India farmers' body; and Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) Ugrahan - Punjab's biggest farmers' union were invited by the government for discussions on ongoing farmer grievances. However, the unions boycotted the meeting, citing the recent police crackdown on protesting farmers at the Shambhu and Khanauri borders and the detention of key farmer leaders, including jagjit Singh Dallewal, who has been on fast since November 26...