Farm unions hold protest in Ludhiana, seek release of Tamil Nadu leaders Pandian, Selvaraj
Protesters submitted a memorandum addressed to the President through the Deputy Commissioner
Farmer unions on Thursday organised protests under the banner of Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), demanding the release of Tamil Nadu farmer leaders.
Speaking on the occasion, Supinder Singh Bagga, district president of Bhartiya Kisan Union (Ekta Sidhupur) said Tamil Nadu farmer leaders PR Pandian and Selvaraj were recently sentenced to 13 years in prison by a fast-track court.
The protesters submitted a memorandum addressed to the President through the Deputy Commissioner, urging intervention to overturn the decision in what the farmers described as a “false and fabricated case”.
Bagga said Pandian had devoted his life to the welfare of farmers and social service. In 2013, ONGC began drilling operations in the “protected agricultural land” zone of Karimangalam in Dharmapuri district, Tamil Nadu. A gas leak created panic among locals, leading the state government to halt the project. However, ONGC allegedly continued operations in violation of government orders, endangering lives and farmland, Bagga said.
In 2015, Pandian led a peaceful protest against the project, citing threat to clean air, water and agriculture. The farmers allege that ONGC conspired to suppress their voices by fabricating evidence, resulting in a false case. On December 6, 2025, the fast-track court sentenced Pandian and Selvaraj.
Farmer leader Gurdeep Singh Barman said demanding clean air and safe water was the right of every Indian. He urged the President to protect people’s rights and secure Pandian’s release, arguing that corporate interests misled the court with false evidence.
Bagga slammed the Centre’s “One Nation, One Land Registration” policy, calling it a dangerous scheme aimed at transferring Punjab’s fertile lands to corporations. He recalled the now-repealed farm laws. “Now, once again, the Centre has its eyes on Punjab’s fertile lands through this new policy,” Bagga said, adding that the Punjab Government is assisting in its implementation instead of opposing it.
The union leaders stressed the need for collective resistance against what they described as anti-farmer and anti-worker policies. “Only through unity can we confront these repeated assaults on farmers, labourers and small shopkeepers,” Bagga said.
