Punjab Farmers Unite in Push for Collective Action on Agrarian Issues

In Punjab, farmers are actively pursuing unity among various agricultural organizations in response to escalating agrarian challenges. The push for collaboration involves the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ekta Sidhupur) led by Jagjit Singh Dallewal, and the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee under the leadership of Sarwan Singh Pandher.

Jagmohan Singh, general secretary of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU), Dakounda, stated, “We have sent messages to them (Dallewal and Pandher) and hopefully the results will be positive. The agrarian fight is getting tougher, and it is better we should be together.” The urgency of this unity is underscored by a planned meeting on January 18, 2023, where the SKM will determine its future course of action regarding ongoing protests related to unmet demands.

Dallewal, who claims to represent the support of 42 farm bodies under the non-political banner of the SKM, has scheduled a meeting for January 8 to discuss these issues further. Tensions have lingered since the year-long protests at the Delhi borders in 2020 against three controversial farm bills. Dallewal distanced himself from the SKM when a faction chose to contest the state assembly elections in 2022. Following this split, both organizations protested at the Shambu borders, demanding a minimum support price (MSP) for all crops, only to be evicted in March.

Dallewal has expressed concerns about the SKM’s lack of clarity regarding the demand for a legal guarantee on MSP, stating, “Unity has to take place and the SKM is not giving clarity on the demand for a law making MSP a legal guarantee.” He further noted that previous attempts at collaboration were met with resistance, indicating that the SKM opposed his method of protest, which included fasting until death.

The situation intensified as the BKU (Ekta Sidhupur) garnered nationwide support for its protests at Shambu, pressuring the SKM to reconsider its stance on unity. Dallewal remarked, “When our protest at Shambu gathered country-wide support, the SKM was under pressure and they started making efforts to make an accord.”

The SKM has articulated several demands, including the implementation of the Swaminathan Commission Report and a complete waiver of farmer debts. Dallewal emphasized the success of past collaborations, recalling that when they united against the Punjab government’s land pooling policy, the government ultimately withdrew the policy.

Beyond these immediate demands, leaders from the SKM have signaled their intention to oppose additional legislation proposed by the central government, including the Seeds Bill and the Electricity Amendment Act, 2025. Dakounda stated, “We are also opposing the new laws, G RAM G, and the setting up of nuclear power generation plants.”

As discussions continue, the future of Punjab’s agricultural landscape hangs in the balance, with farmers seeking to present a united front in their negotiations with the government. The outcomes of these meetings could significantly impact the livelihoods of farmers across the region.