Farmer Coalition to Resume Nationwide Protests on Nov 26 Over MSP, Loan Waivers

The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella organisation of farmer groups that led the prolonged agitation against farm laws in 2020-21, has announced plans to resume protests across India. The protests are scheduled to begin from November 26 at 100 locations, including the national capital, Delhi.

The announcement was made on Monday, with the coalition stating that the protests will continue until their demands are met. Among the key demands are a legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price (MSP) for agricultural produce, the repeal of all Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) including the proposed India-US FTA, a comprehensive loan waiver to address rural indebtedness, and the scrapping of four labour codes.

The SKM is also demanding a minimum wage of Rs 31,000 for workers, restoration of the old Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) scheme, withdrawal of the Electricity Privatisation Bill 2025, the Seed Bill 2025, and the National Food Security Act (Amendment) Bill. Additionally, the group has called for an end to forceful land acquisition.

“The protests will not be called off till all seven demands are accepted,” said P. Krishnaprasad of the All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee (AIKS), a constituent of the SKM.

The move comes shortly after student demonstrations at Jantar Mantar in Delhi. The SKM did not directly reference these protests in its announcement, but the timing has drawn attention.

The SKM was at the forefront of the 2020-21 farmers’ agitation, which saw thousands of farmers camping at Delhi’s borders for over a year. The protests eventually led to the repeal of three farm laws in November 2021. Since then, the coalition has continued to press for other demands, including a legal guarantee for MSP.

The upcoming protests are expected to involve farmer unions from multiple states. The choice of 100 locations indicates a nationwide outreach, with Delhi likely to be a focal point as it was during the earlier agitation.

The demands reflect long-standing concerns in the agricultural sector, particularly around income security and the impact of trade agreements on domestic farming. The government has not yet responded to the SKM’s announcement.

The SKM’s decision to restart protests comes at a time when the government is negotiating an FTA with the United States, which farmers fear could harm Indian agriculture. The demand for a loan waiver also underscores the ongoing issue of rural debt, which has been a persistent issue.

Observers will closely watch the scale of the protests and the government’s response. The SKM has stated that it will hold protests at strategic locations to ensure peaceful demonstrations.

The announcement has drawn mixed reactions. While farmer unions have expressed solidarity, some political observers have questioned the timing, given the ongoing parliamentary session. Others have argued that the demands are legitimate and need to be addressed through dialogue.

As the November 26 date approaches, attention will be on whether the government initiates talks with the SKM. For now, the farmer body has made it clear that it will press ahead with its planned protests unless its demands are met.