The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) staged a sit-in here as part of protests at all district headquarters. The SKM submitted a charter of demands to the Prime Minister and the Chief Minister through deputy commissioners (DCs).
At the protest outside the DC office here, farmers voiced concerns over “long-ignored” agricultural and economic issues that have pushed cultivators into deep financial distress.
The protesters passed a resolution in support of the sewa kendra employees, who are currently on strike over their demands.
SKM leaders warned of intensifying the protest if the Centre continued to “ignore” farmers’ legitimate demands. Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Poonam Singh accepted the demand letter from the protesters.
The memorandum highlighted key demands, including cancellation of a notification withdrawing state’s representation in the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB), uninterrupted fertiliser supply, rollback of the recent hike in urea prices, restoration of subsidies, reinstating 50kg bag weight, cut in prices of fuel, legal guarantee procuring all crops at minimum support price (MSP) and MSP as per Swaminathan Commission’s formula.
The SKM demanded purchases below MSP be declared a punishable offence and the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices be given statutory status.
They pressed for debt waivers for farmers and farm labourers on lines of corporate write-offs, and implementation of one-time settlement schemes in cooperative and land mortgage banks.
The protesters also demanded cancellation of free trade agreements signed under US pressure, exclusion of agriculture from such pacts, and withdrawal of the Electricity Amendment Bill 2025 and Seed Bill 2025.
The protesting farmers said compensation for land acquired under the Bharatmala project should be paid as per the 2013 Land Acquisition Act, based on market value.
The charter of demand also includes withdrawal of all cases registered against farmers during the Delhi protest. They pressed for resumption of trade through the Attari-Wagah and Hussainiwala border crossings with Pakistan and West Asia.
The protesters pressed for farmer-friendly insurance scheme with compensation based on actual losses and premiums paid by the government; rejection of the new draft of the National Agricultural Market policy; annual compensation of Rs 30,000 per acre to farmers tilling land beyond the barbed wire fence on the India-Pakistan border; and permanent measures, including river desilting, strengthening of embankments, new drainage systems and check dams, with a special central fund for flood prevention.
