Martyrs' day observed in Moga; farm labour protest held in Sangrur

By Harsh Thakor*

The Lok Sangram Morcha observed Martyrs’ Day in Moga, Punjab, on July 27. The event, held at Independence Welfare Bhavan, was conducted by Balwant Makhu, Sarban Singh, Gurdeep Vairoke, and press in-charge Paramjit Jaree.

Tributes were paid to figures including Avtar Singh Dhudke, Prithipal Singh Randhawa, Lal Inder Singh Lali, Baba Bhuja Singh, Kanhai Chatterjee, Charu Mazumdar, Basavaraju, and Udham Singh—representing a range of historical figures including political activists, student leaders, and freedom fighters.

The programme began with an opening by Darshan Turi, followed by a two-minute silence. Slogans were raised by Paramjit Jaree, and a song was performed by Ajmer Akaliya.

Participants included members of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Krantikari), Krantikari Pendu Mazdoor Union, and Krantikari E-Rickshaw Union.

Speakers highlighted various social issues including the displacement of Adivasis, state repression, and concerns regarding corporate acquisition of natural resources. They called for unity among democratic organisations. Speakers included Lakhveer Singh of Krantikari Pendu Mazdoor Union, Rajesh Malhotra, Sukhmander Singh, and BKU (Krantikari) leaders Baldev Jari and Gurdeep Vairoke.

Tara Singh Moga concluded the programme by thanking attendees and organisations, reiterating their commitment to the legacy of the individuals commemorated.

Protest in Sangrur Against Detentions and Land Policy

Separately, on July 25, a protest was held in Sangrur by farm labourers and union members following what they described as an informal ban on public demonstrations. The event took place at the Anaj Mandi in Sangrur and was organised by groups including the Zameen Prapti Sangharsh Committee (ZPSC), Punjab Khet Mazdoor Union, and Pendu Mazdoor Union.

According to protest organisers, 16 union leaders arrested in May remained in custody. Lachhman Singh Sewewala, general secretary of the Punjab Khet Mazdoor Union, stated that demonstrators had previously been detained preemptively to prevent protests. He added that the July 25 rally marked a significant mobilisation despite these restrictions.

The background to the protest lies in a May 20 demonstration over a disputed 100-acre parcel of land in Bhamanwali village, formerly under the Jind princely state. Protesters demanded that the unused land be distributed to landless Dalit families and farm labourers under land reform policies. As protests escalated, several activists were detained, with 16 reportedly still incarcerated.

The rally began with a two-minute silence in memory of Jagtar Singh Tolewal, a senior ZPSC leader who recently passed away. Speakers criticised what they referred to as increasing state use of police powers to suppress protests.

“The state is misusing law enforcement mechanisms to curb democratic expression,” said Mukesh Maloud, president of ZPSC. Other speakers included Joginder Ugrahan (BKU-Ugrahan), Nirbhay Singh Dhudike (Kirti Kisan Union), Bhupinder Singh Longowal (Kirti Kisan Union), and Gurbinder Singh.

Demands included the repeal of the land pooling policy, implementation of the Land Ceiling Act, and redistribution of surplus land to the landless. Protesters also condemned alleged arbitrary arrests and demolition drives targeting marginalised communities.

Additional speakers at the rally included Kulwant Singh Kishangarh (BKU-Ekta Dakaunda), Tarsem Peter (Pendu Mazdoor Union), Kulwinder Waraich (IFTU), Vikram Dev (Democratic Teachers’ Front), and representatives of Krantikari Kisan Union, Naujawan Bharat Sabha, and Istri Jagriti Manch.

---

*Freelance journalist

Comments

When democracy becomes a performance: The Tibetan exile experience

By Tseten Lhundup* I was born in Bylakuppe, one of the largest Tibetan settlements in southern India. From childhood, I grew up in simple barracks, along muddy roads, and in fields with limited resources. Over the years, I have watched our democratic system slowly erode. Observing the recent budget session of the 17th Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, these “democratic procedures” appear grand and orderly on the surface, yet in reality they amount to little more than empty formalities. The parliamentarians seem largely disconnected from the everyday struggles faced by ordinary exiled Tibetans like us.

Study links sanctions to 500,000 deaths annually leading to rise in global backlash

By Bharat Dogra International opinion is increasingly turning against the expanding burden of sanctions imposed on a growing number of countries. These measures are contributing to humanitarian crises, intensifying domestic discord, and heightening international tensions, thereby increasing the risks of conflicts and wars.

Dhurandhar: The Revenge — Blurring the line between fiction and political narrative

By Mohd. Ziyaullah Khan* "Dhurandhar: The Revenge" does not wait to be remembered; it arrives almost on the heels of its predecessor, released on March 19, 2026, just months after the first film’s December 2025 debut. The speed of its arrival feels less like creative urgency and more like calculated timing—cinema responding not to storytelling rhythm but to the emotional climate of its audience. Director Aditya Dhar, along with actor Yami Gautam, appears acutely aware of this moment and how to harness it.

BJP accounts for 99% of political donations in Gujarat: Corporate giants dominate

By Jag Jivan An analysis of the official data on donations received by national parties from Gujarat during the Financial Year 2024-25 reveals a staggering concentration of funding, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) accounting for nearly the entirety of the contributions. The data, compiled in a document titled "National Parties donations received from Gujarat during FY-2024-25," lists thousands of transactions, painting a detailed picture of the financial backing for political parties from one of India’s most industrially significant states.

Beyond the island: Top mythologist reorients the geography of the Ramayana

By Jag Jivan In a compelling new analysis that challenges conventional geographical assumptions about the ancient epic, writer and mythologist Devdutt Pattanaik has traced the roots of the Ramayana to the forests and river systems of Central and Eastern India, rather than the peninsular south or the modern island nation of Sri Lanka.

Alarming decline in India's repair culture threatens circular economy goals: Study

By Jag Jivan A comprehensive new study by environmental research and advocacy organisation Toxics Link has painted a worrying picture of India's fading repair culture, warning that the trend towards replacement over repair is accelerating the country's already critical e-waste crisis.

Swami Vivekananda's views on caste and sexuality were 'painfully' regressive

By Bhaskar Sur* Swami Vivekananda now belongs more to the modern Hindu mythology than reality. It makes a daunting job to discover the real human being who knew unemployment, humiliation of losing a teaching job for 'incompetence', longed in vain for the bliss of a happy conjugal life only to suffer the consequent frustration.

Captains extraordinaire: Ranking cricket’s most influential skippers

By Harsh Thakor* Ranking the greatest cricket captains is a subjective exercise, often sparking passionate debate among fans. The following list is not merely a tally of wins and losses; it is an assessment of leadership’s deeper impact. My criteria fuse a captain’s playing record with their tactical skill, placing the highest consideration on their ability to reshape a team’s fortunes and inspire those around them. A captain who inherited a dominant empire is judged differently from one who resurrected a nation’s cricket from the doldrums. With that in mind, here is my perspective on the finest leaders the game has ever seen.

‘No merit’ in Chakraborty’s claims: Personal ethics talk sans details raises questions

By Jag Jivan A recent opinion piece published in The Quint by Subhash Chandra Garg has raised questions over the circumstances surrounding the resignation of Atanu Chakraborty from HDFC Bank , with Garg stating that the exit “raises doubts about his own ‘ethics’.” Garg, currently Chief Policy Advisor at Subhanjali and former Secretary of the Department of Economic Affairs, Government of India, writes that the Reserve Bank of India ( RBI ) appears to find no substance in Chakraborty’s claims, noting, “It is clear the RBI sees no merit in Atanu Chakraborty’s wild and vague assertions.”

Search This Blog