Milpitas (California) Punjabi Diaspora’s Prestigious Organisation The North American Punjabi Association (NAPA) strongly condemns the Haryana government’s repressive actions against peacefully protesting farmers, calling it an alarming assault on democracy and civil rights. In a disturbing incident that unfolded recently, a group of farmers marching toward the Shambhu police station—waving national flags and union banners—were intercepted and surrounded by Haryana Police on the road. The farmers were on their way to engage in dialogue with authorities regarding the ongoing detention of fellow protestors. Instead of being welcomed for negotiation, they were met with excessive police presence, road barricades, and even detentions, prompting widespread outrage and sharp criticism from activists and civil society organizations worldwide.
Reacting to the unfolding crisis, Satnam Singh Chahal, Executive Director of NAPA, expressed deep concern and issued a stern statement: “What is unfolding in Haryana today mirrors the suffocating conditions of Jammu and Kashmir. When peaceful citizens holding flags are treated as security threats, and when dialogue is replaced with detentions, it signals a dangerous descent into authoritarianism.” Mr. Chahal pointed out that several farmers at the site likened the current atmosphere to that of Kashmir, with their chants of “Conditions like Kashmir have been created” reflecting the growing anxiety and anger within the farming community. The reference to Kashmir is not symbolic; it draws attention to the state’s use of militarized tactics such as drone surveillance, roadblocks, preventive detentions, and the silencing of democratic expression—measures that are now becoming common in Haryana as well.
NAPA condemns this militarized approach to civil resistance and sees it as part of a broader pattern of state suppression that began with the 2020–21 farmers’ protest. The association believes that Haryana is being turned into a buffer zone to prevent farmers from marching toward Delhi, effectively creating an internal border guarded not by democratic values, but by riot police and force. What is especially troubling is that farmers who were simply attempting to initiate peaceful dialogue have been arrested and jailed, some without formal charges. Such acts betray the very principles on which the Indian Republic was founded.
“The actions of the Haryana government are not only unconstitutional but morally indefensible,” Mr. Chahal added. “It is unacceptable that farmers—the very backbone of India’s economy—are being treated like criminals. Drones, barricades, and armored vehicles should not be the tools used against citizens waving flags and demanding justice.” He emphasized that peaceful protest is a fundamental democratic right and the use of force against unarmed civilians raises serious questions about the future of civil liberties in India.
In light of these developments, the North American Punjabi Association demands the immediate and unconditional release of all detained farmers and union leaders. NAPA also calls for an end to the use of brute force against peaceful demonstrators and urges the Haryana government to restore democratic norms by facilitating open, transparent, and respectful dialogue with farmer organizations. The association believes that if the current trajectory of repression continues, it will further alienate the farming community and lead to deeper national unrest.
Mr. Chahal concluded with a call to conscience: “This is not just a regional issue. This is a national crisis of democracy. When governments choose suppression over dialogue, and fear over fairness, it is the duty of civil society everywhere—from Punjab to California—to speak out. The international community must take serious note of this growing authoritarianism.”
The North American Punjabi Association stands in unwavering solidarity with the farmers of India. NAPA urges media, human rights organizations, and political representatives across the globe to amplify the voices of those being silenced and ensure that India remains true to its constitutional promises of justice, liberty, and equality for all.