Punjab Farmers to Protest New Farm Market Policy on Lohri

Farmers in Punjab are set to stage a symbolic protest against the draft of the new farm market policy on Lohri, January 13, by burning copies of the proposed reforms. Organized under the banners of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) and SKM Non-Political, the demonstration reflects deep-seated dissatisfaction with the policy, which farmers fear could undermine the existing mandi system and harm their livelihoods.

The protest will coincide with a critical meeting in Patran, where farmer leaders, including SKM’s six-member committee, will strategize on future actions. A key figure in the movement, Jagjit Singh Dallewal, has been on a hunger strike for 48 days, underscoring the urgency of their demands. Dallewal has reached out to religious leaders, urging them to persuade the Central government to meet the farmers’ conditions, including a legal guarantee for minimum support prices (MSP).

Other demands include debt waivers, pensions for farmers and laborers, a halt to electricity tariff hikes, withdrawal of police cases, and justice for the victims of the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence.

Farmers have been camping at Shambhu and Khanauri border points since February 2024 after their march to Delhi was thwarted by security forces. The symbolic burning of the draft policy during Lohri celebrations aims to amplify their opposition and garner public attention.

The draft policy, according to farmer unions, threatens to erode the existing mandi structure, potentially paving the way for greater privatization in the agricultural sector. The farmers believe this could severely impact their incomes and bargaining power.

As the protest coincides with the festive bonfires of Lohri, it highlights the resilience and determination of Punjab’s farming community to safeguard their rights and livelihoods.