Farmers’ platform SKM urges Republic Day ‘People’s March’ to defend constitutional values
The Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) has called on farmers to mark 2026-01-26 with a ‘People’s March’ and rallies, saying the mobilisation is meant to defend democracy, secularism and federalism.
Call for rallies without disrupting official events
The Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) has urged farmers to participate in a ‘People’s March’ on 2026-01-26, asking supporters to commemorate the 77th Republic Day as a “day of the people” while keeping the mobilisation separate from official celebrations. The platform suggested a range of protest formats—tractor parades, vehicle or motorcycle rallies, and public demonstrations—framing them as expressions of democratic participation.
According to SKM’s messaging, the purpose is political as well as symbolic: it says the mobilisation is aimed at defending constitutional principles such as democracy, secularism and federalism, and protecting the space for dissent. SKM has frequently used Republic Day as a moment to foreground constitutional language, arguing that public vigilance is required to safeguard institutional checks and balances.
What SKM says is at stake
The farmers’ platform linked its call to concerns over a set of recent or proposed laws and reforms, which it argues weaken federalism and reduce protections for workers and cultivators. In its statement, SKM referred to multiple legislative items and said these measures could reshape the relationship between the Centre and states, and alter long-standing norms around labour rights, agriculture-linked markets and public accountability.
Beyond specific laws, SKM also highlighted freedom of expression and the right to protest as key democratic safeguards. The framing positions the march not only as an economic agitation but as a constitutional argument: that citizens have both the right and responsibility to assemble, criticise and demand accountability.
How such calls typically play out
Republic Day mobilisations can vary widely in scale depending on local organisation, police permissions, and regional political contexts. By explicitly asking that the ‘People’s March’ should not disrupt official events, SKM appears to be signalling an attempt to keep the protest within a non-confrontational framework while still ensuring visibility and mass participation.
The coming day will show whether the call translates into large rallies across states or remains concentrated in traditional protest hubs. Either way, the messaging underscores how constitutional language continues to be a central tool in India’s street politics.