Punjab Kisan Mazdoor Morcha Accuses AAP Government of Repeatedly Canceling Meetings with Farm Leaders
The Punjab unit of the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) has leveled serious allegations against the Bhagwant Mann-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government, accusing it of repeatedly canceling scheduled meetings with farm leaders. The group asserts that this pattern demonstrates a lack of genuine intent to address the pressing grievances of farmers across the state.
Allegations of Betrayal and Cancelled Engagements
On Tuesday, KMM leaders revealed that a meeting with Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had been abruptly cancelled, as he was reportedly occupied in his assembly constituency of Dhuri. This incident marks the third such cancellation in under three months, following similar occurrences on February 20 and December 19, 2025. The morcha has termed these repeated cancellations a betrayal of the farming community, highlighting what they perceive as governmental indifference.
Citing the scrapped meetings, the outfit has announced a significant protest at the Amritsar Deputy Commissioner's office, set to commence from March 22. This demonstration aims to amplify support for a comprehensive list of farmer demands that have long been pending resolution.
Key Demands Driving the Protest
The KMM has outlined several critical demands that form the basis of their upcoming protest. These include:
- Compensation for losses amounting to approximately Rs 3.77 crore incurred during the Shambhu-Khanauri protest fronts.
- Provision of jobs for the families of farmers who lost their lives during the farmers' movement, along with adequate compensation for those injured.
- Withdrawal of police, railway, and stubble-related cases registered against farmers during the various movements.
- Release of pending flood compensation to affected agricultural communities.
In addition to these immediate concerns, the morcha has also demanded that the Punjab Vidhan Sabha pass a resolution to reject the Electricity Amendment Bill, Seeds Bill, and Labour Codes, which they argue could further disadvantage farmers and laborers.
Planned Peaceful Actions and Future Engagements
Beyond the Amritsar protest, the KMM has announced plans to peacefully raise questions regarding their demands during Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's scheduled visits to Ludhiana on March 20 and Moga on March 21. This strategy underscores their commitment to non-violent advocacy while maintaining pressure on the state government to engage substantively with farm leaders.
The ongoing tensions reflect broader challenges in agricultural policy and farmer-government relations in Punjab, with the KMM positioning itself as a vocal advocate for rural interests amidst perceived governmental neglect.
