Chandigarh Border Protest: Farmers Demand Repeal of Electricity Bill 2

Farmers at the Chandigarh-Mohali border are demanding withdrawal of the Electricity Amendment Bill, 2025, arguing it could lead to privatisation of power supply and higher costs for agricultural consumers.

Electricity Bill on the SKM agenda

Repeal of the proposed Electricity Amendment Bill, 2025 is a central demand at the Samyukta Kisan Morcha's protest at the Chandigarh-Mohali border, which began on September 1, 2026. Farmer leaders have argued that the legislation could lead to the complete privatisation of the electricity sector, with adverse consequences for agricultural consumers who depend on subsidised or flat-rate power for irrigation.

SKM national coordination committee member Balbir Singh Rajewal said ahead of the protest that the government should withdraw both the Electricity Bill 2025 and the Seed Bill 2025. The electricity legislation has been a recurring target of farmer union resolutions since early 2026, when the SKM warned of militant protest if the bill was enacted in the budget session of Parliament.

Privatisation fears and farm power tariffs

Farmer unions contend that amendments to electricity law would weaken state control over power distribution and open the sector to private operators whose tariff structures may not account for agricultural needs. Punjab's farm economy relies heavily on tubewell irrigation, making electricity costs a direct input into crop production.

The SKM has linked the Electricity Bill to a broader pattern of central legislation that shifts control over resources and infrastructure away from states. Alongside the Dam Safety Act and proposed seed legislation, the electricity bill is framed as part of a package that would increase farmers' costs while reducing their bargaining power.

Earlier warnings of nationwide agitation

At an SKM National Council meeting in January 2026, the organisation adopted a resolution calling for immediate militant protest if the NDA government enacted the Electricity Bill 2025 in the forthcoming budget session. The resolution also targeted the VB-G RAM-G Act 2025, the Seeds Bill and four labour codes.

The council decided to observe January 26, 2026 as a day of resistance on these demands and endorsed pan-India struggle building on the model of the 2020–21 farmers' movement. The September Chandigarh protest represents a Punjab-focused escalation of those earlier warnings.

Protest timeline and government engagement

The week-long sit-in at the Chandigarh-Mohali border is scheduled to continue through September 7, with farmers camping along the airport road corridor. By September 4, police officials had opened a channel of communication with SKM leaders amid concern that the morcha could extend beyond the stipulated period.

Farmer leaders said they would wait for a government response until September 5 before announcing further action. The demand for repeal of the Electricity Bill 2025 remains non-negotiable in the SKM's published charter, alongside MSP guarantees, debt waivers and opposition to the India-US trade deal.