The Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Samiti (KMSS) has called for protests in Punjab on July 31 to demand the central government’s attention to the demands made by the farmers of the state during the farmers’ movement in November 2020. The farmers are also seeking Punjab’s representation in the MSP committee.
The KMSS has said that it will block rail routes in Amritsar and various other places on July 31. A protest rally is also scheduled in Mohali on August 5, which will be headed by Balbir Singh Rajewal, founder of the Bharatiya Kisan Union.
The farmers are demanding that the government fulfill their demands, including:
- A legal guarantee of MSP for all crops
- Punjab’s representation in the MSP committee
- Compensation for crop damage
Government jobs for the kin of farmers who lost their lives during the protests against the now-repealed farm laws
The KMSS has warned that if the government does not meet their demands, they will be forced to intensify their agitation.
The protests by the KMSS come at a time when the Punjab government is facing increasing pressure from farmers. The state government has already been criticized for its handling of the sugarcane dues issue. The farmers are also unhappy with the government’s decision to increase the prices of electricity and water.
The protests by the KMSS are likely to put further pressure on the Punjab government. The government will need to find a way to address the farmers’ demands if it wants to avoid further agitation.
In other news, the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) has announced to hold a protest on August 3 against the AAP government in Punjab over non-payment of sugarcane dues and compensation for cotton crop damaged by whitefly.
The SKM will block national highways at three places in Majha, Malwa and Doaba regions in the state on that day.
The farmers are demanding that the government release the dues of sugarcane farmers and provide compensation for the damage caused to the cotton crop. They are also demanding that the government fulfill the promises made to them during the farmers’ movement in 2020.
The SKM’s protest is likely to further strain the relations between the farmers and the AAP government. The government will need to find a way to address the farmers’ demands if it wants to avoid further agitation.
The protests by the farmers in Punjab are a sign of the growing discontent among the farming community in the state. The government will need to take steps to address the farmers’ concerns if it wants to avoid further unrest.
