Chandigarh: Farmers in the Indian state of Punjab initiated a state-wide strike to protest against the government’s policies, seeking a legal guarantee for Minimum Support Prices (MSP) and the full implementation of the MS Swaminathan Commission’s recommendations.

According to Kashmir Media Service, the strike, organized by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, disrupted road and rail transport across the state. Demonstrators blocked major routes, including the Dhareri Jattan Toll Plaza on the Patiala-Chandigarh National Highway, Amritsar’s Golden Gate, and Rampura Phul in Bhatinda. The protest also extended to railway tracks at 50 locations, impacting 232 trains, leading to the cancellation of 174 services, including the Shatabdi and Vande Bharat trains.

The farmers are pressing the government for a legal assurance on MSP to ensure stable pricing for their produce. Additionally, they are advocating for the broader application of the MS Swaminathan Commission’s suggestions, pensions for agricultural workers, debt relief, the revival of the Land Acquisition Act of 2013, and justice for those affected by the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri incident. These demands underscore the farmers’ growing discontent with policies perceived as detrimental to their economic well-being.