Moga Mahapanchayat strengthens unity and mobilization of farmers

By Harsh Thakor*

On January 9, farmers gathered at the Mahapanchayat in Moga's grain market, arriving on tractor-trolleys, buses, cars, and other forms of transport. The overwhelming turnout forced organizers to expand the venue to accommodate the participants.

Senior Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) leader Prem Singh Bhanghu stated, "The SKM has issued a clarion call for all farmer unions across the country to unite on a single platform and collectively resist the pro-corporate and anti-farmer policies of the Union government. Legal guarantees for Minimum Support Price (MSP) and debt waivers are common demands nationwide, and these can only be achieved through wider mobilization and sustained struggle."

The Moga rally's leadership urged all farmer organizations in Punjab to work in unity rather than address parallel issues independently. A six-member SKM committee will visit the Khanauri border on January 10, accompanied by a 101-member farmers' group, to advocate for unity between the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Morcha and the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (Non-Political).

Bhangu announced that on January 13, draft copies of the national agriculture marketing policy issued by the Centre to state governments would be symbolically burnt at sub-divisional levels across Punjab. Furthermore, on January 26, a statewide tractor march will press the Central Government to initiate discussions with protesting farmers, aiming to save the life of fasting farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal.

"The new agriculture marketing policy is merely a rebranded version of the previously repealed farm laws, designed to benefit corporations. We have urged the state government to reject this policy in the Assembly," Bhangu added.

Bharatiya Kisan Union (Lakhowal) chief Harinder Singh Lakhowal emphasized, "AAP MPs, MLAs, cabinet ministers, and Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann must seek a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to address farmers' demands. If denied, they should stage a protest in Delhi."

Lakhowal also called on the Supreme Court to direct the Union government to honor its commitments to farmers and urged the President to grant a meeting to explain the farmers' position.

Prominent leaders addressing the Mahapanchayat included Joginder Singh Ugrahan (BKU Ekta-Ugrahan), Balbir Singh Rajewal (BKU Rajewal), Harinder Singh Lakhowal (BKU Lakhowal), and Rakesh Tikait (BKU spokesperson), among others.

The Samyukt Kisan Morcha passed an "Ekta Resolution," stressing the necessity of unity among unions to push for long-standing demands. The SKM rejected Parliamentary Standing Committee recommendations, accusing them of ignoring the Swaminathan Committee's findings and offering incomplete assurances on MSP.

Future Plans

The SKM will convene a National Council Meeting in Delhi on January 24-25 to strategize future actions. Their key demands include a legal guarantee for MSP, debt relief for farmers and laborers, and the immediate intervention of the Centre to address Dallewal's deteriorating health.

While efforts for unity marked a significant step, the tragic suicide of 50-year-old farmer Resham Singh at the Shambhu border cast a shadow over the movement. Consuming insecticide, Singh left a note declaring his sacrifice was meant to awaken the Modi and Punjab governments. Inspired by Dallewal, Singh's death highlighted the desperation of farmers.

Kisan Mazdoor Manch leader Sarwan Singh Pandher demanded compensation of ₹25 lakh, a government job for the deceased's family, and a loan waiver, vowing not to perform the last rites until the demands were met.

The SKM announced that a six-member Ekta Committee would lead a 101-member team to meet protesting farmers at Khanauri and Shambhu borders on January 10. The initiative includes inviting unions to a joint meeting at Gurdwara Dukhniwaran Sahib in Patiala on January 15.

On January 26, the SKM plans a tractor march across Punjab.

---

*Freelance journalist

Comments

Wave of disappearances sparks human rights fears for activists in Delhi

By Harsh Thakor* A philosophy student from Zakir Hussain College, Delhi University, and an activist associated with Nazariya magazine, Rudra, has been reported missing since the morning of July 19, 2025. This disappearance adds to a growing concern among human rights advocates regarding the escalating number of detentions and disappearances of activists in Delhi.

How community leaders overcome obstacles to protect forests and pastures in remote villages

By Bharat Dogra Dheera Ram Kapaya grew up in such poverty that, unable to attend school himself, he would carry another boy’s heavy school bag for five kilometers just to get a scoop of daliya (porridge). When he was finally able to attend school, he had to leave after class five to join other adolescent workers. However, as soon as opportunities arose, he involved himself in community efforts—promoting forest protection, adult literacy, and other constructive initiatives. His hidden talent for writing emerged during this time, and he became known for the songs and street play scripts he created to promote forest conservation, discourage child marriages, and support other social reforms.

‘Act of war on agriculture’: Aruna Rodrigues slams GM crop expansion and regulatory apathy

By Rosamma Thomas* Expressing appreciation to the Union Agriculture Minister for inviting suggestions from farmers and concerned citizens on the sharp decline in cotton crop productivity, Aruna Rodrigues—lead petitioner in the Supreme Court case ongoing since 2005 that seeks a moratorium on genetically modified (GM) crops—wrote to Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on July 14, 2025, stating that conflicts of interest have infiltrated India’s regulatory system like a spreading cancer, including within the Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR).

The GMO illusion: Three decades of hype, harm, and false hope

By Sridhar Radhakrishnan Three decades of hype, billions of dollars spent, and still no miracle crop. It's time to abandon the GMO biotech fairy tale and return to the soil, the seed, and the farmer. “Trust us,” they said. “GMOs will feed the world.” Picture a world where there is plenty of food, no hunger, fields grow without chemical pesticides, children are saved from malnutrition, and people live healthily.

Sandra Gonzalez Sanabria: An inspiring life from Colombia’s Amazonian valley

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat* In the village of Héctor Ramírez, known as Agua Bonita, in La Montañita, Caquetá, Colombia, a vision of peace and renewal is unfolding. In the pre-2016 period, this would have been nearly impossible for outsiders to visit, as it was the epicenter of violent resistance against state oppression. However, after the Peace Accord was signed between the Colombian government and former revolutionaries—marking the end of a 70-year insurgency that claimed over 400,000 lives until 2025, including civilians, rebel fighters, and security personnel—things began to change. Visiting Agua Bonita during the Global Land Forum in Bogotá revealed a village of hope and resilience. Former FARC revolutionaries have settled here and transformed the village into a center of peace and aspiration.

Overriding India's constitutional sovereignty? Citizens urge PM to reject WHO IHR amendments

By A Representative A group of concerned Indian citizens, including medical professionals and activists, has sent an urgent appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging him to reject proposed amendments to the International Health Regulations (IHR) before the ratification deadline of July 19, 2025.

Indigenous Karen activist calls for global solidarity amid continued struggles in Burma

By A Representative At the International Festival for People’s Rights and Struggles (IFPRS), Naw Paw Pree, an Indigenous Karen activist from the Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG), shared her experiences of oppression, resilience, and hope. Organized with the support of the International Indigenous Peoples Movement for Self-Determination and Liberation (IPMSDL), the event brought together Indigenous and marginalized communities from across the globe, offering a rare safe space for shared learning, solidarity, and expression.

Activists allege abduction and torture by Delhi Police Special Cell in missing person probe

By A Representative A press statement released today by the Campaign Against State Repression (CASR) alleges that several student and social activists have been abducted, illegally detained, and subjected to torture by the Delhi Police Special Cell. The CASR claims these actions are linked to an investigation into the disappearance of Vallika Varshri, an editorial team member of 'Nazariya' magazine.

India’s zero-emission, eco-friendly energy strategies have a long way to go, despite impressive progress

By N.S. Venkataraman* The recent report released by OPEC’s World Oil Outlook 2025 has predicted that by the year 2050, crude oil would replace coal as India’s key energy source. Clearly, OPEC expects that India’s dependence on fossil fuels for energy will continue to remain high in one form or another.

Search This Blog