The Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM), Punjab chapter, has called for a major symbolic protest that is set to disrupt rail movement across the state. The farmers' and labourers' body will stage a two-hour 'rail roko' (rail blockade) on December 5 from 1 pm to 3 pm. The agitation will be held simultaneously at 26 locations spread across 19 districts in Punjab, marking a significant show of strength against several state and central government policies.
Core Issues Driving the Agitation
The protest is not a spontaneous action but a calculated move against a cluster of grievances that have been simmering for months. The primary target is the draft Electricity Amendment Bill 2025. The KMM and allied farmer groups perceive this proposed legislation as a tool to promote privatisation of the power sector, which they fear will lead to a sharp increase in electricity costs and severely undermine the interests of the agricultural community.
Alongside this, the protestors have two other major demands. They are calling for the removal of prepaid electricity meters and the reinstatement of the old meter system. Farmers oppose prepaid meters due to concerns over higher costs and increased control. Furthermore, the agitation is a direct challenge to the Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab government's policy of forcibly selling public properties. Critics label this move as a desperate attempt to cover up financial mismanagement and governance failures.
Widespread Impact on Rail Connectivity
The symbolic blockade is designed to have a tangible impact to pressurise the authorities. Rail movement is expected to be halted in key districts including Amritsar, Gurdaspur, Pathankot, Tarn Taran, Ferozepur, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur, Patiala, Sangrur, Fazilka, Moga, Bathinda, Muktsar, Malerkotla, Mansa, Ludhiana, Faridkot, and Ropar. The blockades will be enforced at specified railway stations and crossings, potentially bringing passenger and freight trains to a standstill across the state for the duration of the protest.
A Part of a Larger Movement
Union leaders have clarified that this two-hour rail roko is not an isolated event. It is, in fact, a part of a larger month-long agitation announced by the KMM specifically to oppose the Electricity Amendment Bill. The protest is being led by senior KMM leaders like Sarwan Singh Pandher and will see participation from multiple farmer and labour organisations across Punjab, indicating broad-based support.
The proposed Electricity Amendment Bill 2025 aims to reform India's power sector by encouraging competition in distribution, phasing out cross-subsidies, and integrating more renewable energy. While the government argues it will bring efficiency, protestors are apprehensive about provisions that mandate cost-reflective tariffs, fearing it will make electricity unaffordable for farmers and weaken state discoms.
The coming together of farmers and labourers on December 5 underscores the deepening conflict between the state's agricultural community and the government's policy direction. The success and scale of this rail roko will be a crucial indicator of the public sentiment on these contentious issues.
