Chandigarh: Farmer organisations in Punjab have stepped up preparations to intensify their agitation against the state government over long-pending demands. On February 5, farmers will gherao the residences of cabinet ministers and ruling party MLAs across the state. As part of the protest, a major demonstration will be held outside the New Amritsar residence of cabinet minister Harbhajan Singh ETO.
Addressing a press conference, farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher said the protest was being organised against what he described as the government’s failure to honour its commitments to the farming community.
Key demands
Pandher said the main demands include a legal guarantee for minimum support price (MSP) on crops, a comprehensive loan waiver for farmers and agricultural labourers, and the release of pending compensation for farmers who lost their lives during the protests at the Shambhu and Khanauri borders. He claimed that compensation worth ₹3.77 crore, announced for the families of deceased farmers, has not yet been disbursed.
The farmer leader also demanded strict action against police officers responsible for the use of force against protesting farmers during earlier agitations.
Attack on Union Budget and Centre’s policies
Pandher criticised the recently presented Union Budget, calling it “corporate-friendly”. He alleged that key sectors such as education, healthcare and MGNREGA had been neglected. He also termed the Seed Act, the Electricity Amendment Bill 2025 and the new labour codes as anti-poor measures.
He said that despite lakhs of government posts lying vacant, the budget failed to offer any concrete roadmap for employment generation for youth.
Call to mobilise with community kitchens
Appealing to farmers and the general public, Pandher urged them to participate in the February 5 protest in large numbers and to bring langar, milk and ration supplies from their homes. He warned that if the government continued to ignore their demands, the agitation would be intensified further in the coming days.
