The Samyukt Kisan Morch (SKM) – a platform of farmer unions across the country – has warned of a massive protest if the Narendra Modi led Union government surrender to the USA and demanded exclusion of agriculture and allied sectors from the Free Trade Agreements and WTO.

Groundxero | Oct 08, 2025

The National Council meeting of Samyukt Kisan Morcha held at Kisan Bhawan, Chandigarh on 7th October 2025 demanded exclusion of agriculture and allied occupations from free trade agreements with the US and other countries, while the issue of massive devastation caused by floods in northwestern states, especially Punjab remained the focal point of discussion. The meeting warned the central government that if it bowed to US pressure to include agriculture and allied sectors under tax-free agreements, it should be prepared to face a massive struggle.

The SKM also strongly condemned the gross failure of Bhagawant Singh Mann administration in Punjab to visit and record actual loss and provide timely relief to the flood victims in villages.

The joint platform of the farmer unions said that instead of treating the destruction caused by floods as a natural calamity, it should be seen as the result of bureaucratic negligence and connivance for corporate exploitation of natural resources including sensitive Himalayan forests. SKM stated that due to the capitalist model of development, global warming and climate change are increasing and the manipulations being done in the mountains favouring corporate interests are now bringing disastrous consequences for human society.

SKM, while calling for large protest gatherings in the state capitals / districts across the country on November 26 regarding the demands related to floods and other demands of SKM, condemned the Union government and Punjab government for turning a blind eye despite the meteorological department’s warnings of heavy rainfall, calling it a serious administrative failure. It stated that serious negligence was shown in the inspection, cleaning, and maintenance that are normally done for rivers, drains, embankments, dams, and their floodgates. SKM said that mismanagement in the process of releasing water from the dams caused widespread destruction of lives, crops, houses and livestock across large parts of Punjab.

Along with demanding the adoption of a continuous process of desilting of dams, the National Council meeting of SKM demanded a judicial inquiry by a sitting judge of the Supreme Court to identify and punish the respective ministers and senior officials responsible for administrative negligence.

SKM also decided to form a people’s commission consisting of experts and public activists to bring out the policy-related aspects of the causes and future prevention of floods and natural calamities.

The meeting demanded compensation of Rs 70,000 per acre to cultivators for crop loss caused by floods, 10% of this amount to labourers, Rs 25 lakh to the families of the deceased and Rs 10 lakh for completely collapsed houses. It demanded compensation for the loss of cattle (buffaloes, cows), free supply of sugarcane seeds to sugarcane farmers, and Rs 1 lakh per acre compensation for damaged sugarcane crops. The meeting also demanded compensation for reduced yield of paddy and cotton due to diseases and unseasonal rains, and to increase the permissible moisture content in paddy from 17% to 22%.

SKM said that beside Punjab, the Union Government have to provide financial assistance to all other states including Assam, West Bengal, Maharashta, Karnataka among others that have suffered heavy natural calamities in the recent period.

The General Body meeting also passed resolutions demanding an immediate ceasefire to stop the genocide of Palestinians and to ensure humanitarian aid, to release Sonam Wangchuk immediately, end repression on the people of Ladakh, grant them rights and statehood under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, and release all prisoners across the country who have completed their sentences irrespective of opinion, religion, or race.

Feature Image: Bharatiya Kisan Union Ekta Ugrahan demanding compensation for flood victims in Sangrur district.