Farmers to launch multi-day protests across India from November 26: SKM

By A Representative 

The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) has announced a fresh phase of nationwide farmers’ protests, with Kisan Marches and multi-day mass actions planned at 100 locations, including the national capital, from November 26, 2026. The organisation said the protests would continue until its seven principal demands are met.

The decision was taken at the SKM All-India Convention held on July 28 at the Civic Centre Auditorium in New Delhi, which was attended by around 1,200 delegates. A National Convention of Workers and Farmers was held the following day at Talkatora Stadium, with around 5,000 leaders from trade unions and farmers’ organisations participating.

Announcing this at a press conference at the Press Club of India, the SKM said the proposed campaign would be coordinated with organisations representing workers, farmers, agricultural labourers, students, youth, women and other sections affected by what it described as “corporate attack” under the NDA government. The organisation said the movement would seek to strengthen worker-peasant unity, address the agrarian crisis and labour exploitation, and defend a democratic, federal and secular framework.

The SKM recalled that it was formed during the farmers’ agitation of 2020-21, which involved a 385-day continuous protest at Delhi’s borders and, according to the organisation, resulted in the deaths of 736 farmers. The earlier movement had demanded a legal guarantee for minimum support prices based on the C2+50% formula, procurement of all crops, comprehensive loan waivers and an end to electricity privatisation, besides repeal of the three farm laws. The three farm laws were repealed on November 19, 2021, and the agitation was suspended on December 11 that year following written assurances from the government on December 9.

According to the SKM, several of those assurances remain unimplemented. It also alleged that the government has since introduced what it termed “regressive” labour codes, curtailed the MGNREGA framework, accelerated electricity privatisation and moved ahead with proposed changes in seed legislation. The organisation also raised concerns over the management of FCI grain storage, claiming that Adani and Leap India would control 77.5% of the grains in the silos, and opposed what it described as a reduction in free grain entitlements under the Food Security Act.

The SKM further alleged that while farmers had not received a comprehensive loan waiver, corporate dues amounting to Rs 16 lakh crore had been written off. It also opposed the proposed India-US Free Trade Agreement and other free trade agreements, arguing that imports of cheaper agricultural products could undermine farm incomes, alter cropping patterns and weaken domestic food and food-processing markets. The organisation said such agreements could also adversely affect small and medium enterprises.

The seven principal demands adopted by the convention include opposition to India-US and other free trade agreements; enactment of a law guaranteeing MSP at C2+50% along with procurement for all crops; a comprehensive farm loan waiver and compensation of Rs 25 lakh to families of farmers who died by suicide; repeal of the four labour codes and a minimum wage of Rs 31,000 for all workers; restoration of MGNREGA with 200 days of employment and a daily wage of Rs 700; withdrawal of the Electricity Privatisation Bill 2025, Seed Bill 2025 and NFSA Amendment Bill; and protection of land rights against forced acquisition and corporate land pooling under the Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013, the Forest Rights Act, 2006, and PESA, 1996.

The SKM has outlined a six-point action programme leading up to the November mobilisation. State-level conventions will be organised over the next two months to prepare for independent and coordinated struggles. The organisation has also called for a nationwide protest on August 10, including forms of action such as jail bharo, rail roko and road roko, at around 1,000 locations.

On August 17, SKM delegations are scheduled to submit their charter of demands to the Prime Minister, Leader of Opposition, chief ministers, opposition leaders in state assemblies, MPs and MLAs, seeking action on the demands. Member organisations will subsequently conduct campaigns including mass padayatras, vehicle jathas, tractor marches, public meetings, mahapanchayats and state-level rallies.

The SKM has also announced village mahapanchayats across the country on October 3, observed as Lakhimpur Kheri Martyrs Day, to mobilise volunteers for the longer phase of the movement. The organisation said the final form, locations and dates of the mass actions beginning November 26 would be announced later.

The SKM said the nationwide mobilisation would continue until its principal demands are achieved.