The BJP’s efforts to rebuild its political presence in Punjab have faced a fresh challenge as thousands of farmers returned to the Shambhu border amid protests against the proposed India-US trade agreement. The renewed mobilisation and Haryana Police’s decision to stop farmers from marching towards Delhi have brought back scenes reminiscent of the major farm protests of 2020-21 and 2024.

The development comes shortly after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Punjab, which was seen as an attempt by the BJP to reset its political outreach in the state. During the visit, the focus remained on development, infrastructure, and investment, while Modi’s decision to wear a green turban, a colour associated with Punjab’s farming community, was viewed as a symbolic gesture towards rural voters.

However, the farmers’ agitation has shifted political attention back to agricultural concerns. Protesters have raised objections over the proposed India-US trade deal, expressing fears that reduced import duties could allow heavily subsidised American agricultural and dairy products to enter the Indian market. Farmers’ groups argue that such a move could affect crop prices, farm incomes, and the interests of domestic producers.

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The situation has drawn comparisons with the 2020-21 farm laws protests, when farmers rejected the Centre’s agricultural reforms despite government assurances regarding Minimum Support Price (MSP) and the continuation of existing market systems. The earlier agitation, which was largely led by farmers from Punjab and neighbouring states, continued for months before the three farm laws were eventually withdrawn.

Punjab BJP president Kewal Singh Dhillon has urged farmers not to oppose the trade agreement before its finalisation, stating that the government would protect the interests of farmers and livestock rearers. He said Prime Minister Modi had assured that Punjab’s agricultural community would not face any adverse impact. Farmers’ organisations, however, remain unconvinced and are demanding greater clarity from the Centre.

The issue has also triggered political reactions in Punjab. The Congress, Aam Aadmi Party, and Shiromani Akali Dal have criticised the proposed agreement, with opposition parties alleging that it could harm the state’s agriculture and dairy sectors. They have demanded transparency from the Centre and called for the concerns of farmers to be addressed.

For the BJP, the timing of the protest presents a significant challenge as the party attempts to expand its support base beyond urban voters and strengthen its position ahead of the Punjab Assembly elections. A prolonged farmers’ movement could revive memories of the earlier farm laws agitation and once again place agricultural issues at the centre of the state’s political debate.

The current protest differs from previous movements as it is focused on an international trade agreement rather than domestic agricultural reforms. If the agitation gains momentum, it could become a major test for how political parties balance global trade policies with the concerns of India’s farming community.

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