Farmers and labor unions in Punjab carried out protests as part of a nationwide initiative organized by the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (Bharat). Effigies of the central and state governments were burned at 112 locations across 19 districts in the state. At a gathering in Amritsar, union leader Sarwan Singh Pandher demanded immediate compensation for farmers hit by recent floods, including Rs 70,000 per acre for damaged paddy fields, with a portion allocated to farm laborers. He also called for compensation for livestock losses, repair of damaged homes, and free distribution of diesel, fertilizers, and seeds for the upcoming wheat sowing season.
Pandher urged the removal of the five-acre compensation cap and called for a thorough investigation into alleged mismanagement of water releases from Punjab’s dams. Additionally, he proposed the construction of permanent embankments along vulnerable river stretches to prevent future flooding. Criticizing fines imposed on farmers for stubble burning, Pandher highlighted the disparity between fines and actual compensation for crop damage. He emphasized the need for better stubble management systems or financial support for farmers to handle it themselves.
The Kisan Mazdoor Morcha demanded an end to legal actions against farmers for stubble burning, arguing that the majority of pollution stems from the corporate sector. The protests also called for fair paddy procurement, settlement of pending sugarcane payments, and reasonable prices for cotton and basmati crops. Despite adverse weather conditions, a significant number of farmers, laborers, and women participated in the protests at all 112 locations under the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha Punjab.
Key leaders at the protests included representatives from various farmer unions such as BKU Ekta Azad, BKU Krantikari, Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee, and others. The recent floods in Punjab impacted over 3 lakh individuals and caused damage to approximately 4 lakh acres of agricultural land, resulting in 59 fatalities. The Central Government announced interim relief of Rs 1,600 crore, with the Prime Minister visiting the affected areas in response.