Farmers Union to mobilize a million ‘swayamsevaks’ to fight trade deals

The Samyukt Kisan Morcha will hold kisan panchayats in one lakh villages in September and October to galvanize farmers against such free trade agreements (FTAs). File | Photo credit: PTI

The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella organization for about 500 farm outfits, has decided to enlist a million young kisan swayamsevaks (farm volunteers) to protest against bilateral and multilateral trade agreements the country has signed or is proposing to sign with other countries. The organization will hold kisan panchayats in one lakh villages in September and October to encourage farmers against such free trade agreements (FTAs).

Speaking to reporters here on Thursday (September 3, 2026), SKM leaders said delegations have met more than 100 ministers, MPs and MLAs across the country with a charter of demands that include scrapping all free trade agreements. They said they have also written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking an audience. “The Prime Minister’s Office has received our letter but has not yet given us a meeting. SKM believes that the Prime Minister has become inaccessible to India’s farmers who constitute 65% of the population. It is shocking that the Prime Minister has shown no interest in meeting the representatives of the vast majority of the population of India and this shows that the RSS-BJP combine does not care about the farmers,” they said.

They said written assurances were given to SKM while withdrawing the year-long farmers’ protests in 2021, but none of them were fulfilled, including farm loan waiver and legalized minimum support price. “SKM will hold Maha Panchayats in one lakh villages on October 3, 2026 — Lakhimpur Kheri Martyrs Day. After that, a list of 10 lakh farmer volunteers, including 2.5 lakh women farmers, will be issued to renew the farmers’ struggle from November 26, 2026,” they added.

“The SKM National Council and General Body will meet in Karnal, Haryana on October 12 and work out details to resume the farmers’ struggle from November 26 if the Modi regime continues to neglect farmers’ demands,” they said.

Published – 04 Sep 2026 03:40 IST