On October 6, 2025, the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, a prominent farmers’ organization, spearheaded protests across Punjab. Their core demands included immediate compensation for farmers severely impacted by the recent devastating floods and a strong condemnation of the state government’s measures against stubble burning. As a powerful symbol of their discontent, protesters dramatically burnt effigies representing both the Union and Punjab governments.
Sarwan Singh Pandher, a key leader of the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha who led the Amritsar demonstration, emphasized the urgent need for financial relief. He stated that farmers are seeking a minimum of ₹70,000 per acre to cover the extensive paddy crop damage caused by the floods. Additionally, Pandher advocated for 10% of this compensation to be allocated to farm laborers, alongside 100% compensation for lost livestock and poultry farms.
The protesting farmers also called for comprehensive compensation for individuals whose homes were destroyed by the floods. They urged the State Government to supply essential seeds and fertilizers for the upcoming wheat sowing season. Furthermore, farmers requested an extension of the deadline for clearing sand and silt that has accumulated in their agricultural fields in the flood-ravaged regions.
Punjab recently endured some of its most severe flooding in decades. This crisis was primarily triggered by the overflowing Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi rivers, compounded by seasonal streams swollen by heavy rainfall in their upstream catchment areas across Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir. Local heavy rains within Punjab further worsened the already dire flood situation.
Addressing another critical issue, Pandher strongly criticized the State Government’s stringent measures against stubble burning. He highlighted that First Information Reports (FIRs) are being lodged, “red entries” are being made in land records, and hefty fines are being imposed on farmers for farm fires. He vehemently demanded an immediate halt to all such punitive actions.
The Kisan Mazdoor Morcha leader proposed that the State Government should provide a financial incentive of ₹200 per quintal, or ₹6,000 per acre, to farmers for effective management of crop residue. Pandher warned that if the government fails to cease its crackdown on stubble burning, the farmers are prepared to escalate their protests.
Stubble burning, a practice common in Punjab and Haryana, is frequently cited as a major contributor to the worsening air pollution in Delhi, especially during October and November following the paddy harvest. Farmers often resort to burning crop residue to quickly clear their fields, as the time window for sowing the subsequent Rabi crop, such as wheat, is extremely narrow after the paddy harvest.
Responding to the call from the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, several other prominent farmer organizations joined the protests. These included Bharti Kisan Union (Ekta Azad), BKU (Krantikari), BKU (Doaba), and Kisan Mazdoor Hitkari Sabha, demonstrating widespread solidarity among the farming community.