The Punjab chapter of the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha are holding one-day dharnas outside the offices of Deputy Commissioners (DCs) in all 22 districts of Punjab today, August 31 and protests are being organised to raise a range of demands related to farmers, agricultural labourers, land, electricity, employment and environmental issues.
The protests are being held in Amritsar, Gurdaspur, Pathankot, Hoshiarpur, Jalandhar, Kapurthala, Tarn Taran, Ferozepur, Fazilka, Moga, Ludhiana, Faridkot, Sri Muktsar Sahib, Bathinda, Sangrur, Mansa, Patiala, Malerkotla, Mohali, Rupnagar and Fatehgarh Sahib.
Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee Punjab leader Sarwan Singh Pandher said a large gathering would take place outside the Amritsar DC office and protesters are expected to assemble around noon.
The Morcha has also announced that if its demands are not addressed, it will begin a five-day protest campaign outside the residences of Punjab ministers from September 14.
One of the major demands concerns the procurement and prices of agricultural crops and the farmers’ groups have sought procurement of basmati, maize, moong, mustard and potato at remunerative prices above the Minimum Support Price (MSP).
The groups have also demanded a complete loan waiver for farmers and agricultural labourers and have also sought compensation and government jobs for families of farmers and labourers who died by suicide due to debt.
The Morcha has called for a long-term policy to deal with Punjab’s recurring flood problem. It has also raised concerns over the declining groundwater level and air and water pollution in the state.
On river waters, the groups have demanded that water distribution follow the riparian principle, under which states or regions through which a river flows are given priority in the use of its waters.
The Morcha has also listed several Central legislations and policy changes that it opposes and these include the Seeds Bill/Act, 2025, Cooperative Laws/changes, 2026, the Viksit Bharat–G RAM G Act, 2025, which has replaced MGNREGA, and the Electricity (Amendment) Bill, 2025.
The groups have also demanded an end to prepaid electricity meters in Punjab.
The protesters have sought withdrawal of Punjab’s land pooling policy and they have also demanded an end to forcible acquisition of land without farmers’ consent and adequate compensation in cases where land is acquired.
Another demand relates to cases registered against farmers and agricultural workers during various protests. The Morcha has sought withdrawal of police and railway cases registered during farmers’ and labourers’ agitations, along with cases related to stubble burning.
The groups have also demanded the return of belongings, including tractor-trolleys, which they allege were seized during the Shambhu and Khanauri protests and they have sought compensation and government jobs for families of protesters who died during these agitations.
The Morcha has sought ownership rights for settlers, farmers and labourers who are cultivating land on which they have settled and it has also demanded stronger measures against drug abuse and permanent employment opportunities for Punjab’s youth.
The groups are additionally opposing drone-based mapping of villages without the consent of residents.
Another demand is the opening of a trade corridor with Pakistan. The Morcha has said such a corridor would provide farmers, traders and small businesses in Punjab access to new markets.
Pandher said the protests were aimed at highlighting the concerns of farmers and agricultural workers and putting pressure on the Punjab Government to take action on the demands.
The Monday dharnas across all 22 districts are therefore expected to focus on both agriculture-related issues and wider demands concerning land, employment, electricity, the environment and cases linked to previous farmers’ and labourers’ agitations.
