Photo Source: Babushahi Bureau
Samyukt Kisan Morcha announces statewide agitation against Electricity Bill, Seed Bill and Labour codes
Babushahi Bureau
Chandigarh, December 13, 2025:The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), along with nearly 60 organisations representing farmers, workers, employees, contract workers, students and women, on Friday announced a major statewide agitation against the proposed Electricity Amendment Bill 2025, Seed Bill 2025, privatization of the public sector, sale of government and institutional land, and the four labour codes.
The announcement was made at a joint meeting held at Kisan Bhawan, Chandigarh, where participating organisations resolved to intensify public mobilisation to force the withdrawal of what they described as “anti-people and pro-corporate” policies of the Centre.
The meeting unanimously decided that a “Black Day” will be observed across Punjab a day after the Electricity Amendment Bill 2025 is presented in Parliament. As part of the protest, railway tracks will be blocked for three hours from 12 noon to 3 pm, and toll plazas will be made free across the state. Several employee organisations, including electricity department employees and teachers’ unions, will hold gate rallies wearing black badges and black attire. To ensure the success of these programmes, district-level joint meetings will be held on December 15.
The meeting, chaired by senior farmer leaders Joginder Singh Ugrahan, Harinder Singh Lakhowal, Buta Singh Burjgill, Raminder Singh Patiala, Baldev Singh Nihalgarh, Binder Singh Golewal and Tajinder Singh Rajewal, was attended by a wide spectrum of organisations, including rural and agricultural labour unions, electricity employees’ forums, technical service unions, engineers’ associations, transport and factory worker unions, employees’ federations, student unions and women’s organisations.
Strongly opposing the Electricity Bill 2025, the gathering said the proposed legislation seeks to convert electricity from a public service into a market commodity, calling it the next phase of the Centre’s corporate-driven agenda. To counter this, the organisations announced a statewide public campaign from December 28 to January 4, featuring village-to-city outreach programmes, rallies, demonstrations, motorcycle marches, flag marches and drum processions. A massive sit-in protest has also been announced outside Superintending Engineer (SE) offices of the Electricity Department on January 16.
The meeting also resolved to intensify opposition to the four labour codes, the sale of land belonging to government and public institutions, and other policy decisions affecting workers and farmers. Criticising the Punjab government’s silence on the Electricity Amendment Bill and Seed Bill 2025, the participants accused the state government of following the Centre’s pro-corporate and anti-people approach.
Resolutions were also passed condemning the alleged misbehaviour of Odisha Police and corporate-backed groups against SKM National Coordination Committee leader Satyawan, as well as the alleged repression of farmers protesting against an ethanol factory at Tibi (Hanumangarh) in Rajasthan. The meeting demanded withdrawal of cases against protesting farmers, release of those arrested, medical treatment for the injured, and resolution of the issue through dialogue.
Additional resolutions were adopted seeking withdrawal of cases against PRTC and Punjab Roadways contract workers, opposing 100 per cent FDI in LIC, and criticising decisions related to the National Education Policy 2020 and changes to the UGC framework.