Labour unions across Punjab erupted in protest on Thursday, January 2, 2026, staging demonstrations and burning effigies of the state government and police administration. The widespread agitation was triggered by the recent arrest of a senior labour leader, with unions issuing a stern warning of a more intense movement if their demands are not met.
Statewide Demonstrations and Key Demands
The protests were coordinated by the Pendu Mazdoor Union (PMU) Punjab and the Zameen Prapti Sangharsh Committee (ZPSC). They took place in more than two dozen towns and villages, including major centres like Jalandhar, Kapurthala, Gurdaspur, Ludhiana, Moga, Sangrur, Patiala, and Nawanshahr.
The unions have presented a clear ultimatum to the Bhagwant Mann-led government. They demand the immediate release of their arrested leader and the withdrawal of cases filed against certain journalists and an IT activist. Union members have explicitly warned that failure to comply will result in the launch of an intense agitation against the Punjab government.
The Arrest That Sparked the Outcry
The focal point of the unrest is the arrest of Mukesh Malaud, the president of the Zameen Prapti Sangharsh Committee. Malaud was apprehended by Sangrur police on December 30 from Delhi. He was returning from Maharashtra after attending a program organised by the Ambedkar Mission.
Union leaders have framed this arrest as a deliberate attempt to cripple the Dalit land rights movement. Kashmir Singh Ghughshor, the state secretary of PMU, along with ZPSC leaders Bikram Singh Hathoa and Dharamvir Harigarh, levelled serious allegations against the state administration.
Allegations of Suppression and Surveillance
The leaders accused the government, which they claim is rattled by the ongoing struggles of landless labourers, of trying to suppress the movement for a rightful share in panchayat land. They specifically mentioned efforts to establish Begumpura settlements on land in Bir Eswan village of Sangrur.
Ghughshor alleged that by jailing Malaud, the state government is conspiring to leave Dalits leaderless and is siding with big landowners and feudal forces to weaken the land rights movement.
In a further serious claim, the union leaders stated that intelligence agencies have been tracking their movements through mobile phone location surveillance, adding a layer of concern about state overreach to the existing tensions.
The situation remains tense as the Punjab government faces mounting pressure from organised labour groups. The coming days will be crucial in determining whether the demands are addressed or if the state witnesses the escalation of agitation as threatened by the unions.
