Bathinda: The Punjab chapter of Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) on Tuesday gave the state govt another 15 days to act on written assurances given by agriculture minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian on interstate water agreements and other demands.After a meeting of the morcha, SKM representatives Raminder Singh, Buta Singh Shadipur and Bhupinder Singh Aulakh said 15 days had passed since the minister’s assurances and the govt was now expected to begin acting on them. They warned of a “strict action plan” if the govt failed to keep its word after the additional 15-day period.The SKM asked the govt to convene a special session of the state assembly to annul interstate water agreements made over the past 25 years and pass resolutions against Sections 78, 79 and 80 of the Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966. It also sought a resolution urging the Centre to implement the riparian principle.Khudian had given the written assurances on Sep 7, following a week-long SKM protest at the Chandigarh-Mohali border from Sep 1 to 7. He had assured that the assembly would be convened within a month to pass resolutions on the water agreements and seek their abrogation and review by the Centre.The assurances also included resolutions on repeal of the Dam Safety Act and Seed Bill 2025. An all-party committee was to examine the demand for a one-time settlement scheme for farm loans.SKM also demanded an end to penal action over stubble burning, withdrawal of the Centre’s decision on 15-month red entries, assured returns for alternative crops to promote diversification, immediate paddy procurement and adequate DAP supplies.
