SKM Protests Over MSP, Farmers Oppose US Trade Pressure

On 10 Mar, the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) in Panjab held a four-hour protest outside the residences of many Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Members of Legislative Assembly (MLA). On 9 Mar, SKM leaders argued that Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann cannot pass off their demands as a union government issue. On 5 Mar, the Panjab govt. stopped farmers from entering Chandigarh and detained scores of farmers leaders. Bhartiya Kisan Union (Ekta Ugrahan) Chief Joginder Singh Ugrahan said, 'Panjab CM is speaking the language of the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party). He wants to create a divide between urban and rural areas...Twelve demands were agreed upon by the CM in December 2023 and now he claims we had gone to him with the demands related to the Center (union govt.). We are ready for a debate with him at any given time and place.' Interestingly, the AAP MLA from Nabha, Gurdev Singh Dev Mann joined the farmers as they staged protests against his own party's MLA and ministers. Given US president Donald Trump’s change in policies, farmer unions have cautioned the Union govt. against succumbing to US pressure to open India’s agriculture sector to large-scale trade, calling it ‘suicidal’ for domestic farmers who cannot compete with heavily subsidized American imports. Concerns have risen that India may yield to US demands on tariff cuts, prompting the Indian National Congress party to question whether New Delhi has ‘surrendered’ national interests. US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick earlier stated that India ‘can’t just keep agriculture closed.’ Meanwhile, Panjab Horticulture minister Mohinder Kumar Bhagat confirmed that the state fully utilized USD 538M under the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund, surpassing its initial goals before the 31 Mar 2026 deadline. With more than 21K sanctioned projects, Panjab aims to modernize post-harvest processes, from cold stores and drone services to advanced processing (earlier coverage).