At the call of the Punjab chapter of the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, a one-day protest demonstration was held today, August 31, outside Deputy Commissioner (DC) offices across all 22 districts of Punjab. Farmers, laborers, and youth from across the state were urged to participate in large numbers.
The Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (Punjab chapter) stated that instead of addressing critical issues concerning Punjab’s agriculture, water resources, land, employment, and rural economy, governments are implementing policies that disproportionately affect farmers, laborers, and rural populations. Consequently, through this protest on August 31, the following demands are being forcefully presented to both the Punjab and Central governments:
The Punjab government must ensure the procurement of Basmati, maize, moong (green gram), mustard, and potato crops at remunerative prices—above the Minimum Support Price (MSP)—to protect farmers from exploitation in the *mandis* (markets).
Complete loan waivers must be granted to farmers and laborers. Families of farmers and laborers who have committed suicide due to debt should receive adequate compensation and a government job for one family member.
A scientific and long-term effective policy must be formulated to address recurring floods, the continuously depleting groundwater table, and the escalating crisis of air and water pollution in Punjab. River water sharing must be determined in accordance with the riparian principle.
A resolution should be passed in the Punjab Legislative Assembly rejecting the Centre’s proposed Seeds Bill/Act (2025), Cooperative Laws/Changes (2026), the ‘Viksit Bharat–G RAM G Act’ (2025)—introduced to replace MGNREGA—and the Electricity (Amendment) Bill (2025). The installation of prepaid electricity meters in Punjab must be stopped immediately. (Note: The Central Government has repealed MGNREGA by implementing the VB–G RAM G Act effective July 1, 2026).
The Punjab government should pass a resolution in the Legislative Assembly opposing the India-US trade agreement and demand that the Central Government scrap this pact. All belongings—including tractor-trolleys—seized or confiscated from farmers at the Shambhu and Khanauri protest sites must be returned, and justice must be ensured regarding the actions taken against the protesters.
All cultivating farmers and laborers should be granted ownership rights to the land they have settled on and are currently farming.
Police and railway cases registered during farmer-laborer movements, as well as cases related to stubble burning, should be withdrawn. Families of farmers and laborers who lost their lives during these movements should receive adequate compensation and a government job for one family member.
Punjab’s land pooling policy must be withdrawn immediately, and the forcible acquisition of farmers’ land—without their consent and fair compensation—for any project, including the Bharatmala Project, must cease. Although the Punjab government has made several amendments to the land pooling policy, farmers demand its complete withdrawal.
Drug abuse in Punjab must be effectively controlled, and permanent, dignified employment opportunities created for the youth to protect them from the menace of drugs and unemployment.
The mapping of villages via drones by private entities—conducted without the villagers’ consent under the guise of creating various zones—must stop immediately; instead, a transparent process involving the villagers’ consent must be ensured for such activities.
A trade corridor with the neighboring country, Pakistan, should be opened to provide new markets for Punjab’s farmers, traders, and small business owners, thereby strengthening the economy of the border regions.
