SKM to hold protests at 100 locations from Nov 26, demands MSP guarantee and loan waivers
NEW DELHI: The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella body of farmer groups that led the prolonged agitation against the three farm laws, announced on Monday that it will resume protests at 100 locations across India, including Delhi, starting November 26. The date marks the sixth anniversary of the year-long farmers' protest that culminated in the repeal of the three farm laws in December 2021.
The SKM has put forward seven principal demands, including a legal guarantee for minimum support price (MSP) for crops, withdrawal of all free trade agreements, and a commitment against any India-US free trade agreement. The organisation is also seeking a comprehensive loan waiver to address rural indebtedness, scrapping of four labour codes, a minimum monthly wage of Rs 31,000 for all workers, restoration of the previous rural job guarantee scheme, withdrawal of the Electricity Privatisation Bill 2025, the Seed Bill 2025, and the NFSA Amendment Bill, and an end to forceful land acquisition.
Announcing the protest plan, P Krishnaprasad of the All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS), a constituent of the SKM, said the movement would continue until all seven demands are met. He described the planned protests as a "decisive mass struggle" coordinated with joint platforms of workers, farmers, agricultural workers, students, youth, women, and other social sections affected by what he termed "corporate attack under the NDA regime."
Krishnaprasad stressed the importance of worker-peasant unity to end the prolonged agrarian crisis and labour exploitation, and to build what he called "a modern democratic, federal, secular India." His statement reflected the SKM's broader vision of linking the farmers' demands with wider social and economic issues.
The announcement comes months after student protests at Jantar Mantar in Delhi, which the SKM said emboldened them to restart their agitation. The earlier farmers' protest, which began in 2020, saw thousands of farmers camp at Delhi's borders for over a year, demanding the repeal of the three farm laws. The government eventually repealed the laws in December 2021, but several demands, including the legal guarantee for MSP, remained unfulfilled.
The SKM's decision to stage protests at multiple locations is seen as an attempt to keep the pressure on the government, particularly ahead of upcoming state and national elections. Farmers' groups have repeatedly emphasised that MSP is crucial for ensuring stable incomes for farmers, especially in a sector plagued by price volatility and rising input costs.
Political analysts note that the protests could have significant political implications, as the agrarian distress has been a key issue in several states. The government has maintained that it is committed to farmers' welfare and has cited various schemes and initiatives aimed at improving their livelihoods. However, farmer leaders argue that legal guarantees are necessary to protect farmers from market fluctuations and corporate interests.
The SKM's protest plan includes demonstrations, rallies, and other forms of peaceful agitation at the designated locations. The organisation has said it will follow all legal and procedural norms while conducting the protests. The coming weeks are likely to see heightened activity as farmers and their allies mobilise support for the demands.
The situation remains fluid, and further details about the scale and duration of the protests are expected to emerge as November 26 approaches. The government's response to the planned protests will be watched closely, as it seeks to balance the concerns of the farming community with its broader economic and trade policies.
