SKM-Led Farmers Begin 3-Day Protest In Punjab Demanding MSP Guarantee, Debt Waivers

Farmers, united under the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) banner, initiated a three-day protest at the Mohali-Chandigarh border, calling for a legal guarantee of the minimum support price (MSP).

Farmers from various regions of Punjab gathered at the Mohali-Chandigarh border on Sunday, initiating a three-day nationwide protest organised by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha. The demonstration seeks a legal guarantee for the minimum support price (MSP) for agricultural produce. Stringent security measures were implemented in anticipation of the protest, with traffic being diverted to alternative routes on certain roads, according to officials cited by news agency PTI.

The farmers' key demands include the withdrawal of cases filed against them during the 2020-21 agitation against the now-repealed farm laws, compensation, and employment for family members of deceased farmers, debt waivers, and pensions. The Samyukta Kisan Morcha serves as an umbrella organisation for various farmer unions.

The protesters plan to march to Raj Bhavan in Chandigarh to submit a memorandum outlining their demands to the Punjab governor, PTI reported.

Farmers from multiple regions, including Ludhiana, Ferozepur, and Sangrur, began assembling at the Mohali-Chandigarh border along Phase-11 in Mohali and the IISER chowk road on Sunday. Arriving on tractor trolleys, they brought essential supplies such as ration, bedding, utensils, and cooking gas for the three-day protest. Harinder Singh Lakhowal, General Secretary of Bharti Kisan Union (Lakhowal), stated that hundreds of farmers had already reached the protest site, with many more en route on tractors, as per PTI.

A participating farmer told PTI, "I left my village in Ferozepur around noon on Saturday and reached the Mohali-Chandigarh border around 2 am." The Punjab and Chandigarh Police have heightened security near the border, installing barricades and deploying water cannons.

Farmers' Protest: Traffic Advisory In Chandigarh And Mohali

In a traffic advisory, Chandigarh Police announced the temporary closure of roads from the Faidan barrier on Purv Marg leading towards Shaheed Bhagat Singh International Airport in Mohali until November 28. Commuters heading to the airport, Aerocity, and Bestech Mall were advised to take a right from the Faidan barrier and then a left from Sector 46/47/48/49 Chowk, proceeding straight towards Airport Road in Mohali.

The Mohali Police, in their traffic advisory, suspended traffic on the Jagatpura sector 48-49 traffic lights to the Bawa White House stretch until November 28.