Punjab farmers launch weeklong protest at Chandigarh-Mohali border

Farmers from Punjab, organized under the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) banner, have launched a seven-day ‘pakka morcha’ protest at the Chandigarh-Mohali border. The agitation, scheduled from September 1 to September 7, involves 32 farmer organizations and has seen large numbers of protesters arriving with tractor-trailers, food, and essential supplies.

The protesters are demanding several key concessions, most notably a legal guarantee for the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for all crops based on the Swaminathan Commission report, and a complete waiver of loans for both farmers and agricultural laborers. Other significant demands include the scrapping of previous agreements regarding Punjab’s river waters, the restoration of the state’s representation in the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB), and the repeal of the Dam Safety Act.

Security has been heavily deployed by both Chandigarh and Punjab administrations to manage the situation. While protesters have been allotted a site in Sector 48, their presence on the roads leading to the Shaheed Bhagat Singh International Airport has necessitated traffic management measures to keep one side of the highway open for commuters.