The Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) on Wednesday said it will stage ‘dharnas’ outside the residences of Punjab ministers and leaders from September 14 to press for a charter of demands, including farm debt waiver and procurement of crops at minimum support price (MSP).
Among its key demands, the KMM leaders sought government procurement of basmati, maize, moong, mustard and potato at MSP, alleging that farmers were being forced to sell these crops below remunerative prices. On the flood, groundwater and pollution crisis, the Morcha leaders demanded an effective policy to address recurring floods, depletion of groundwater and rising air and water pollution in Punjab. The farmer leaders also opposed the land-pooling policy and demanded that forcible acquisition of farmers’ land for the Bharatmala project be stopped.
They said a meeting would be convened on September 16 to review the situation and take a decision on intensifying their agitation if the demands remained unfulfilled. The KMM leaders sought resolutions in the Punjab Assembly rejecting the Seed Bill 2025, the central government’s legislation relating to replacement of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), and the Electricity Amendment Bill 2025.
Addressing a press conference after the meeting, Morcha leaders said the agitation would be intensified if the Punjab government failed to resolve their demands. Families of farmers and workers who died by suicide should be provided adequate compensation and a government job to one member, they said.
