SKM-Punjab submits MSP, debt relief memo to Punjab Governor Kataria
Synopsis
SKM-Punjab took its demands directly to the Governor's door on 19 June, pressing for a legal MSP guarantee, farmer debt relief, and FIR withdrawals — and got a significant update: the FIR withdrawal proposal has already been sent to the President of India for approval.
Key Takeaways
SKM-Punjab delegation met Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria at Lok Bhavan, Chandigarh on 19 June .
Key demands include a legal MSP guarantee , debt relief for farmers and agricultural labourers, crop insurance reform, and land acquisition redress.
Withdrawal of FIRs against farmer leaders: Governor confirmed the proposal has been sent to the President of India for approval.
Governor assured the delegation he would personally raise all issues with both the Punjab government and the Government of India .
SKM-Punjab has been asked to submit a detailed proposal with practical, long-term solutions alongside their demands.
A delegation of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM-Punjab) on Friday, 19 June met Punjab Governor and Chandigarh Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria at Lok Bhavan, Chandigarh, and submitted a formal memorandum outlining a range of pressing demands from the farming community. The meeting marks a renewed push by farm unions to secure government action on issues that have remained unresolved since the repeal of the three contentious farm laws.
Key Demands Raised
The SKM-Punjab delegation raised several critical issues, including a legal guarantee for the Minimum Support Price (MSP), debt relief for farmers and agricultural labourers, conservation of water resources, crop insurance reform, land acquisition grievances, and the withdrawal of cases filed against farmers during agitations over the three farm laws approximately four years ago. The breadth of the memorandum reflects the wide-ranging distress within Punjab's agricultural sector, which continues to grapple with indebtedness and climate-linked crop losses.
What the Governor Said
Governor Gulab Chand Kataria assured the delegation that he would personally take up all demands with both the Punjab government and the Government of India, making every possible effort towards their resolution. He acknowledged that matters relating to Punjab's agriculture, water resources, and farmer livelihoods are of 'utmost importance and deserve serious consideration.' Kataria also urged the SKM-Punjab to submit a detailed proposal outlining not only their demands but also practical, long-term solutions, so the concerns could be effectively presented before the respective governments.
FIR Withdrawal Update
In a notable development, Governor Kataria informed the delegation that the proposal regarding the withdrawal of First Information Reports (FIRs) registered against farmer leaders has already been forwarded to the President of India for approval, and that the necessary process is currently underway. This is a key demand that farm unions have pressed for since the conclusion of the farm law protests.
Farmer Response
Representatives of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha expressed gratitude to the Governor for patiently hearing their concerns and for committing to take up the issues with the relevant governments. The delegation urged that a resolution be reached at the earliest, given the sustained economic pressure on Punjab's farming households. This comes amid ongoing national debate over MSP legislation, with farm unions across India continuing to demand a statutory framework that guarantees remunerative prices for crops.
Point of View
FIR withdrawals, and debt relief are demands that predate and outlasted the farm law repeal of 2021. The Governor's disclosure that the FIR withdrawal proposal is already with the President is the most concrete development here, yet it raises a question mainstream coverage glosses over: why has Presidential approval taken this long? With Punjab's agrarian distress deepening and no statutory MSP framework in sight at the national level, symbolic assurances from Raj Bhavan carry limited weight unless they translate into measurable policy action within a defined timeline.
NationPress
6 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What demands did SKM-Punjab raise in the memorandum to the Punjab Governor?
The SKM-Punjab memorandum called for a legal guarantee for the Minimum Support Price (MSP), debt relief for farmers and agricultural labourers, water resource conservation, crop insurance reform, land acquisition redress, and withdrawal of cases filed during the farm law agitations approximately four years ago.
What did Governor Gulab Chand Kataria say about the FIR withdrawal demand?
Governor Kataria informed the SKM-Punjab delegation that the proposal for withdrawing FIRs registered against farmer leaders has already been sent to the President of India for approval, and that the process is currently underway.
What is the legal MSP guarantee demand and why does it matter?
A legal MSP guarantee would make it a statutory obligation for the government to procure crops at or above the Minimum Support Price, protecting farmers from market price crashes. Farm unions have demanded this since the repeal of the three farm laws in 2021, arguing that without it, remunerative pricing remains at the government's discretion.
What did the Governor ask SKM-Punjab to do next?
Governor Kataria urged the Samyukta Kisan Morcha to submit a detailed proposal that includes not just their demands but also practical and long-term solutions, so the issues can be effectively presented before both the Punjab government and the Government of India.
Who attended the meeting at Lok Bhavan, Chandigarh?
A delegation of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM-Punjab) met Punjab Governor and Chandigarh Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria at Lok Bhavan, Chandigarh on 19 June.
