Corporate Capture of Natural Resources Behind North India Floods, Says Samyukt Kisan Morcha; Calls for Judicial Probe and Rs 1 Lakh Crore Relief Package

New Delhi: The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) has held corporate capture of natural resources, unplanned deforestation, corruption, and bureaucratic collusion responsible for the recent devastating floods and natural disasters across North India.

At its national council meeting in Chandigarh on October 7, SKM demanded a judicial inquiry headed by a sitting Supreme Court judge, to probe administrative negligence and corporate influence behind the disasters.

The Morcha accused the Punjab government led by Bhagwant Singh Mann of failing to record real losses or provide timely relief in flood-affected villages. The statement praised ordinary citizens who volunteered relief supplies, contrasting their efforts with what it called “official apathy and incompetence.”

The farmers’ body urged the Centre to sanction a special national relief package of ₹1 lakh crore for all disaster-affected states and ₹25,000 crore specifically for Punjab.
It sought compensation of ₹70,000 per acre for crop losses, ₹25 lakh for each death, ₹10 lakh for fully destroyed houses, and ₹1 lakh per lost cattle.

The SKM also demanded free seed supply for cane farmers and relaxation of paddy moisture limits from 17% to 22% for procurement.

The Morcha announced that it would form a People’s Commission comprising experts and grassroots activists to study the causes of floods, deforestation, and infrastructure-linked ecological damage, and recommend prevention strategies and accountability measures.

The SKM demanded the cancellation of bail for Ashish Mishra, accused in the Lakhimpur Kheri killings, citing witness intimidation.
It warned the Modi government against succumbing to US pressure to remove the 11% import duty on cotton, and urged that agriculture and allied sectors be kept outside the ambit of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) and the WTO.

The statement also condemned the massacre of Palestinians, demanded the release of Ladakh activist Sonam Wangchuk and other political prisoners, and called for granting Sixth Schedule status to Ladakh.

Marking the fifth anniversary of the historic farmers’ protest, SKM announced mass demonstrations in all state and district capitals on November 26, 2025, against corporate exploitation, climate negligence, and administrative corruption.

The meeting was chaired by Balbir Singh Rajewal, Boota Singh Burjgill, Rajan Shrirasagar, Viju Krishnan, Shankar Ghosh, Nagendra Badalgapura, and Ashok Baitha, with participation from leading farmer leaders including Joginder Singh Ugrahan, Harinder Singh Lakhowal, Dr. Darshan Pal, Ruldu Singh Mansa, and Dr. Ashish Mittal among others.