In a significant show of dissent, thousands of activists from the farm group Kisan Mazdur Morcha (KMM) staged coordinated protest demonstrations outside the offices of District Commissioners (DCs) across Punjab on Thursday. The protests were directed against the contentious Electricity Amendment Bill and the ongoing installation of prepaid electricity meters, which farmers argue will increase their financial burden.
Farm Leaders Issue Stern Demands to State Government
Addressing the media, prominent farm leader Sarwan Singh Pandher detailed the scale of the agitation. He stated that the protests were held in accordance with demands submitted on December 1 and followed a two-hour rail blockade carried out earlier on December 5. Pandher was unequivocal in his opposition to the central legislation, declaring it would not be allowed to be implemented "under any circumstances."
He presented a clear set of demands to the Punjab government:
- Pass a resolution in the state legislative assembly against the Electricity Amendment Bill.
- Immediately halt the forced installation of prepaid electricity meters.
- Continue the use of existing conventional meters for consumers.
Broader Environmental and Agricultural Grievances Raised
The protest was not limited to electricity issues. Another farm leader, Gurbacham Singh Chabba, expanded the scope of demands to include critical environmental policies affecting agriculture. Chabba argued that agriculture should be explicitly excluded from pollution-control laws, while industries that release toxic substances into the air and water should face shutdowns.
He called for the Punjab government to take several specific actions:
- Withdraw recent amendments to the Water Pollution Prevention and Control Act that remove penalties for polluters.
- Restore strict punishments for industrial owners responsible for life-threatening pollution.
- Immediately stop all cases, fines, and red entries imposed on farmers for stubble burning.
- Alternatively, the government must make proper and subsidized arrangements for stubble management to provide farmers a viable solution.
What Happens Next?
The widespread protests at administrative headquarters across Punjab signal a deepening confrontation between farmer unions and authorities over policy direction. The Kisan Mazdur Morcha has demonstrated its capacity for organized, large-scale agitation, as seen in the earlier rail blockade and now the DC office demonstrations. The ball is now in the court of the Punjab state government, which faces pressure to either advocate for its farmers at the central level or provide immediate relief through state-level resolutions and policy reversals. The coming days will be crucial in determining whether this agitation escalates or leads to dialogue and resolution.
