Photo Source: Babushahi Bureau
Youth hold motorcycle march on Shaheed Bhagat Singh’s birth anniversary to demand permanent flood solutions
Babushahi Bureau
Fazilka (Punjab), September 28, 2025: On the occasion of Shaheed Bhagat Singh’s birth anniversary, youth from flood-affected villages organized a massive motorcycle march at Mahatma Nagar Grain Market, demanding permanent solutions for flood-related issues.
The march, led by Kirti Kisan Union, Punjab Students Union, Yuva Bharat Sabha, and Democratic Teachers Front, aimed to mobilize villagers to participate in a major sit-in at the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Fazilka on October 3.
The protesters called for the recognition of land ownership rights on uncultivated lands, fair compensation for damaged crops, homes, livestock, and human losses, equitable water distribution based on the riparian principle, stricter control over dams, and policies for proper rainwater management and irrigation infrastructure development.
Addressing the gathering, leaders including Sukhchain Singh and Mandeep Singh (Kirti Kisan Union), Dheeraj and Kamaljeet Singh (Punjab Students Union), Mahinder Kaureeya and Gurvinder (Democratic Teachers Front), and Rajan Muharsana (Yuva Bharat Sabha) criticized the government for implementing “people-unfriendly and corporatized development models,” citing extensive deforestation and hill-cutting to construct roads, which they said has increased flood incidents.
They alleged that the central government’s Dam Safety Act has given it complete control over Punjab’s rivers and dams, undermining state rights. They also criticized water diversion to Haryana and Rajasthan, claiming Punjab’s excess rainwater is released, causing flooding in local villages. Leaders stressed that water distribution must follow natural and legal riparian principles to protect Punjab’s resources.
Additional leaders, including Harmit Singh, Aditya, Dilkarn Ratanpura, Norang Lal, Jaimal Singh, and Sukhdev Singh, highlighted the economic hardships faced by flood-affected families, noting that many residents have uncultivated land and are yet to receive last year’s compensation. They also demanded fee waivers for students from these villages who are unable to pay due to flood-related losses.
The gathering concluded with a call for large-scale mobilization from the flood-affected villages, encouraging residents to participate in the October 3 sit-in at the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Fazilka. Villagers responded with overwhelming support, and dozens of youth from affected areas, including Kulwinder Singh, Sanam, Manpreet Singh, Sanjeev Singh, Ranjit Singh, Gursevak Singh, Jasveer Singh, Gurvinder Singh, Nirmal Singh, Sikandar Singh, Jagrup Singh, Raman, Jaswinder Singh, Rajpreet Singh, Sunil, Arshdeep Singh, Surjit Singh, and Lavjit Singh, participated in the march.