Chandigarh witnessed a massive farmers’ protest on Wednesday as the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) held a rally at Dussehra Ground in Sector 43 to mark the fifth anniversary of their movement against the now-repealed agricultural laws.
During the rally, farmers warned that if the Jalandhar sugar mill is not restarted immediately, they would block the highway in Jalandhar on Thursday.
Addressing the crowd, SKM leader Balbir Singh Rajewal alleged that the Indian government is preparing to sign a free trade agreement with the United States, which he said could adversely affect farmers.
He also criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi, claiming that assurances of protecting agriculture were misleading. Rajewal further pointed to a new seed bill being introduced by the Centre, which he said would force farmers to purchase seeds from private companies, sidelining research conducted by agricultural universities.
For the first time, the UT administration granted permission for the rally to continue for three hours without any conditions. During the event, it was announced that SKM would hold a crucial meeting on November 28, where plans for a larger protest are expected to be unveiled.
The rally concluded with farmers submitting a memorandum to Navraj Singh Brar, Joint Secretary of the Punjab Transport Department, on behalf of the Punjab government. A large number of farmer families attended the gathering, reflecting widespread support for the movement. They also demanded compensation for the crops affected during recent floods.
Furthermore, SKM leaders said the November 28 meeting would focus on opposing the Electricity Bill 2025, with a major movement likely to be announced.
Farmer leader Buta Singh Burj Gill urged the Punjab government to formally oppose the Electricity Bill, describing it as “wrong” and against the interests of the state’s farmers.