Farmer unions to protest on Dec 5 & 8 over Electricity Bill

Farmer unions and electricity board employees in Punjab have jointly announced a series of protests across the state against the proposed Electricity Amendment Bill, Seed Bill 2025, and other labour related laws.

A joint meeting of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) and Power Board employee unions was held at the office of the Jamhoori Kisan Sabha here under the chairmanship of Balbir Singh Moodhal. Addressing the gathering, Dr Satnam Singh Ajnala said that the Electricity Bill 2025 would end all types of subsidies and cross-subsidies, making electricity extremely expensive and out of reach for the common people. He demanded that the Punjab government immediately call a special session of the Assembly and reject these 'anti-people' laws.

He further said that the Central government is bringing in the Seed Bill 2025, which will give corporate houses full control over seed research and production. This will make seeds costlier and unaffordable for the ordinary farmers. The farmer leaders also criticised the four new labour codes, saying they take away trade union rights and give large industrial houses more power.

The unions announced that massive protests will be held on December 8 from 12 pm to 3 pm outside all sub-divisional offices of the Punjab State Power Corporation Ltd in Amritsar district.

Meanwhile, the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha has announced a two-hour symbolic 'Rail Roko' on December 5, from 1 pm to 3 pm, at 26 locations in 19 districts. The protest will demand scrapping of the draft Electricity Bill 2025, removal of prepaid meters and stopping the alleged forced sale of public assets by the state government.

Rail traffic is expected to be halted at key points, including Amritsar, Majitha, Batala, Gurdaspur, Tanda, Jalandhar Cantt, Shambu, Sunam, Moga, Bathinda, Malout, Ludhiana, Sahnewal and others by the farmers.