Kisan Mazdoor Morcha announces five-day protest in Punjab on Monday, to gherao AAP ministers' residences
PTC News Desk: The Kisan Mazdoor Morcha has announced a week-long protest against the AAP-led Punjab government outside the residences of Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker Kultar Sandhwan and seven AAP ministers, including state party president Aman Arora.
With BKU Ekta Ugrahan already gheraoing ministers since Saturday, the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) has now decided to take its protest directly to the residences of ministers. The move marks a further escalation of the farmers’ agitation and puts direct political pressure on the ruling AAP government.
The development comes around two weeks after the KMM held protests outside the offices of deputy commissioners in all 22 districts. It also comes a week after the Samyukt Kisan Morcha held a seven-day protest on the Chandigarh-Mohali border.
Farmer leader Sarwan Pandher has warned that if the government does not seriously consider their demands and start talks, the KMM will decide on an intensified phase of the agitation at its meeting on September 16.
The immediate reason for the latest protest is the shortage of power supply and fertilisers needed for the paddy crop. However, the KMM’s demands cover several wider issues affecting farmers and the state.
The farmers are demanding government procurement at MSP for basmati, maize, moong, mustard and potatoes. They are also seeking a complete waiver of farm and agricultural labourers’ debt, along with compensation and government jobs for the families of farmers and labourers who died by suicide.
Other demands include a long-term policy to deal with floods, falling groundwater levels and pollution.
Opposition to land policies and bills
The KMM has also demanded withdrawal of the Punjab government’s Land Pooling Policy. It wants the Wagah trade route with Pakistan to be reopened and has opposed forced land acquisition for the Bharatmala project.
The farmers are also seeking Assembly resolutions against the Seed Act, 2025, the Cooperative Societies Act, 2026, laws replacing MGNREGA and the Electricity (Amendment) Bill, 2025.
They have opposed prepaid electricity meters and want the Punjab Assembly to pass a resolution clearly rejecting the proposed India-US trade agreement.
The decision to protest outside ministers’ homes is being seen as a significant escalation.
Protests will be held outside the residences of:
Harbhajan Singh ETO in Jandiala
Aman Arora in Sunam
Lal Chand Kataruchak in Bhoa
Ravjot Singh in Hoshiarpur
Gurmeet Khuddian in Muktsar
Mohinder Bhagat in Jalandhar
Hardeep Mundian in Ludhiana
Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan’s residence in Faridkot will also be a protest site.
The timing is challenging for the AAP government, which is already facing growing protests and confrontation from employees and pensioners.
- PTC NEWS
