Celebrate the 77th Republic Day on 26 January 2026 with “People’s March”; Defend Democracy, Secularism and Federalism; Repeal all pro-corporate legislations; Call for Tractor Parade, Vehicle/Motorcycle Rally & Mass Demonstrations At State/District/Block headquarters

Groundxero | Jan 24, 2026

As the Indian state prepares to observe the 77th Republic Day with military spectacle and official ceremony, Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) – platform of farmers’ unions – has called for a parallel nationwide mobilisation to reclaim the day as one of the people. Terming the present moment a “crisis of democracy and federalism,” SKM has announced a “People’s March” across the country on January 26, with tractor parades, vehicle and motorcycle rallies, and mass demonstrations at state, district and block headquarters.

The call was issued following a meeting of the SKM National Council. “Peoples March” on 26 January 2026 will be taken out in the afternoon without affecting the official Republic Day Parade and in coordination with the workers and agricultural, rural workers.

In a press statement released on January 24, SKM said the mobilisation on Republic Day is aimed at defending constitutional values such as democracy, secularism and federalism, while opposing what it described as a growing corporate capture of the state under the NDA-led Union government.

The farmers’ body accused the Modi government of pushing through a series of pro-corporate legislations that threaten the livelihoods of farmers and workers and weaken the federal structure. Among the laws cited were the Electricity Bill 2025, the four Labour Codes, the VB-GRAMG Act 2025, the Seeds Bill 2025, the SHANTHI Act 2025, the Insurance Act 2025, the New Education Policy and the National Cooperation Policy.

“All these legislations are also aimed to curtail the federal rights of the states and convert India into a unitary system of governance thus attacking the fundamental features of Indian Constitution,” the statement said.

SKM also raised concerns over what it called the normalisation of communal violence and hate. It alleged that organisations affiliated with the Sangh Parivar were unleashing violent and uncivilised form of attacks and harassments on people belongs to minorities especially Muslims and Christians, devastating the secular social fabrics and unity of the people, cohabitation in India a country with diversity of language, culture and beliefs. SKM said that the Modi Government either remained silent or acted against the victims instead of the perpetrators.

“India cannot remain united without the time tested principles of Secularism a basic feature of the Constitution of India,” SKM added.

On democratic rights of the people, SKM pointed to what it described as the increasing misuse of stringent laws such as the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and the National Security Act (NSA) to silence dissent. It demanded the immediate release of all political prisoners, including activist Sonam Wangchuk of Ladakh, and others, who remain in jails without trials even after five years.

Calling on people across the country to join the January 26 mobilisations, SKM said the People’s March would be a collective assertion to defend freedom of expression and right to protest, and a stand against what it termed “anti-people, anti-worker and anti-federal” policies.