Farmers plan march to Punjab assembly on budget day

The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) plans a march to the Punjab assembly on March 26, coinciding with the state budget presentation. This follows a recent police intervention that stopped their week-long protest in Chandigarh. SKM leaders criticized Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann for misleading the public about farmers' demands. They assert that their issues are not solely related to the central government and challenged Mann to debate these concerns. The SKM, representing over 30 farmer groups, is demanding various agricultural reforms, including minimum support prices for six crops, debt relief, and land rights for tillers. They also seek to address issues like land acquisition and compensation for farmers who died during protests.