Punjab farmers demand fulfillment of long pending demands

Farmers from Punjab gathered in Chandigarh on Wednesday (November 26, 2025) to press for their long pending demands, including a legal guarantee on minimum support price (MSP) for crops among others.

Farmers associated with over 30 farmer and farm labour unions under the banner of Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) assembled to mark the fifth anniversary of their ‘anti-farm law agitation’ against the Central Government and submitted a memorandum of their demands to local authorities, addressed to the President of India.

“We have demanded that agriculture and other sectors related to agriculture should be excluded from the tax-free trade agreements being made with various countries. MSP and purchase guarantee laws and permanent employment should be arranged. Besides, the Electricity Amendment Bill 2025 should not be passed,” said Jagmohan Singh, general secretary, Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ekta Dakonda) and member of SKM.

Accepting the major demand of the students of Panjab University, the university senate elections should be announced. The National Education Policy should be repealed. Education should be included in the State List instead of the Concurrent List of the Constitution. The Punjab government itself should formulate and implement an appropriate, scientific and democratic education policy according to the needs of the state.

“Apart from this, we want the rate of sugarcane should be increased to ₹500 per quintal. The cases, fines, etc. registered against farmers for burning paddy stubble should be cancelled. All remaining demands of the ‘Delhi agitation’ and all cases registered against farmers during the struggle should be dropped,” he added.

Separately, students staged a protest in Panjab University in Chandigarh, demanding the announcement of Senate elections. Students under the banner of ‘Panjab University Bachao Morcha’, had given a call for a shutdown of the University, even as the University authorities had already declared a holiday on November 26.

While the University had already initiated the process for the elections, seeking approval from the Vice-President of India, the University’s Chancellor, however, the students are adamant that until the Senate poll schedule is announced, their protest would continue.

A group of former senators, including Professor Chaman Lal have demanded that the election schedule of the Senate should be immediately notified.

“The elected Senate should address the issue of academic reforms essential for the growth of the University, but without harming the democratic structure of the University. Central government should either transfer Chandigarh city to Punjab to fulfill its long pending and accepted legitimate demand, which will solve Panjab University issue, as the inter state character of the University will revert to Punjab State University as it was between 1947 to 1966 or make a clear declaration that Chandigarh and by implication Panjab University will be handed over to Punjab in a time bound manner,” he said.