Punjab is witnessing a fresh wave of farmer protests, with the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) beginning a seven-day “pakka morcha” at the Chandigarh-Mohali border and another farmer platform announcing a series of demonstrations across the state in the coming weeks.
The developments come as the AAP-led Punjab government is already facing pressure from employee unions over dearness allowance arrears and pension-related demands. The growing convergence between sections of the farmers’ and employees’ movements could pose a fresh challenge for the state government.
Hundreds of farmers under the SKM banner began assembling near Jagatpura village from Sunday evening, bringing tractor-trailers, mattresses, folding beds, dry rations, cooking stoves and water tankers. The protest, scheduled from September 1 to 7, is being held along the road connecting Chandigarh with Mohali and the airport corridor.
The protest stretch extends from the Chandigarh side towards Bestech Mall in Mohali. A large mobilisation is expected to affect traffic between the two cities, prompting the Chandigarh Administration and Punjab Government to make security and traffic arrangements.
Gurdwaras in Mohali, including Gurdwara Singh Shaheedan in Sohana, have also started sending langar for the protesters. While the mobilisation has initially been largely male-dominated, organisers said women protesters were expected to join from Wednesday.
MSP, debt waiver and Punjab’s water rights
The SKM’s charter of demands includes a legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price (MSP), based on the Swaminathan Commission formula, and a complete waiver of loans of farmers and agricultural labourers.
Farmers are also opposing proposed free trade agreements with the US and European countries, arguing that such agreements could expose Indian agriculture to cheaper imports and hurt farm incomes.
Water remains one of the most prominent Punjab-specific issues. Farmers are demanding a fresh review of river-water-sharing arrangements involving Punjab and want the state Assembly to convene a special session on the matter.
They are also demanding the repeal of Sections 78, 79 and 80 of the Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966, and restoration of Punjab’s representation in the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB).
Prem Singh Bhangu, president of the All India Kisan Federation, told this newspaper that the river-water dispute should be resolved according to the riparian principle and constitutional provisions.
“We are against the proposed free trade agreement with the USA,” Bhangu said, adding that farmers were seeking MSP based on C2 plus 50 per cent for all agricultural produce apart from wheat and paddy.
The demands also include repeal of the Dam Safety Act, Electricity Amendment Act and proposed Seed Bill, besides social security of Rs 10,000 a month for farmers and agricultural workers.
The SKM is further seeking withdrawal of Punjab’s land pooling policy, a sugarcane price of Rs 500 per quintal, timely payment of farmers’ dues and a “one counter, one payment” system at sugar mills.
Separately, the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha Chapter Punjab, linked to Sarwan Singh Pandher’s Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee, has announced its own escalation programme.
The group has already held district-level demonstrations and plans five-day morchas from September 14 in the home constituencies of several Punjab ministers. It has also threatened a rail blockade if its demands are not addressed through talks.
Its demands include compensation for losses suffered during the clearance of the Shambhu-Khanauri protest, compensation and government jobs for families of protesters who died during the agitation, withdrawal of police and railway cases against farmers, and rollback of the land pooling policy.
The group is also seeking restoration of Punjab’s rights in the BBMB and has raised demands concerning Sikh prisoners.
Farmers extend support to employees
The farmer agitation has also begun intersecting with the employees’ movement. Farm leaders at the Chandigarh-Mohali protest site have condemned what they described as action against employee leaders and extended support to government employees fighting for DA arrears and pension-related demands.
BKU (Ekta-Ugrahan) has decided to support employees in their planned action on September 4, potentially bringing together two significant sections of Punjab’s protest movements.
The developments follow a bandh by government employees and pensioners over their demands, adding to the pressure on the Mann government from multiple fronts.
For commuters, the immediate concern is the Chandigarh-Mohali border. With tractor-trailers and support vehicles occupying a stretch of the road near Jagatpura, motorists travelling between Chandigarh, Mohali and the airport corridor should expect delays and possible diversions during the week-long protest.
