Punjab Farmers Stage Widespread Protests During Amit Shah's State Visit
The Punjab chapter of the farm forum Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) organized significant protests at 32 different locations across 19 districts of Punjab on Saturday. These demonstrations strategically coincided with the visit of Union Home Minister Amit Shah to the state, amplifying their visibility and political message.
Core Demands of the Protesting Farmers
The protesters presented a comprehensive list of demands, highlighting deep-seated agricultural and economic concerns. Their primary requests included the exclusion of agriculture and allied sectors from the proposed Indo-US trade deal, which they fear could undermine local farming. Additionally, they called for the cancellation of the electricity bill, seeds bill, and new labour codes, arguing these policies are detrimental to farmers' interests.
Further demands focused on social welfare and financial relief. The KMM insisted on the resumption of the old version of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), which they believe provides better support for rural workers. A critical demand was the establishment of a legal right to Minimum Support Price (MSP) on all crops, calculated as per the C2+50% formula, ensuring fair remuneration. Lastly, they pushed for a complete farm debt waiver to alleviate the financial burden on struggling agriculturalists.
Symbolic Actions and Political Criticism
At all protest sites, participants engaged in symbolic acts of dissent by burning effigies of the central government, representing their frustration with current policies. They also conducted protest marches to draw public and media attention to their cause. The protesters specifically criticized the naming of Amit Shah's rally as 'badlav' (meaning change), sarcastically remarking that farmers do not desire more 'badlav' because the actions taken by the BJP government without such change have already become intolerable for the agricultural community.
Historical Context of KMM Activism
This is not the first instance of KMM mobilizing protests in Punjab. The organization previously held demonstrations on February 16 when Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and Aam Aadmi Party convener Arvind Kejriwal visited Moga for a rally against drugs. This pattern indicates a sustained campaign by KMM to leverage high-profile political visits as platforms to voice agricultural grievances, regardless of the ruling party at state or central levels.
The protests underscore ongoing tensions in Punjab's agrarian sector, with farmers demanding policy shifts to secure their livelihoods and protect traditional farming practices against global trade pressures and domestic legislative changes.
