– The BKU has linked its economic demands with broader political issues. In February 2026, BKU (Sidhupur) made the Ladhowal toll barrier free for commuters to protest the government's alleged inaction on enacting a stringent anti-sacrilege law. They supported the "Dharam Yudh Morcha" (religious war front), removing barriers to allow vehicles to pass free of tax.
: Check if you are eligible for a BKU ID card. Generally, farmers and agricultural workers who are members of the BKU are eligible.
Because these cards carry significant social weight, BKU factions follow specific internal protocols to prevent misuse:
This is likely a reference to identity cards issued by the (BKU) to its members for identification at toll plazas — possibly for claiming exemptions or protesting toll collection, as farmer unions in Punjab have historically opposed toll taxes on national/state highways. Toll Plaza Bhartiya Kisan Union Id Card Punjab
If you are a farmer in Punjab seeking this ID card (not for toll evasion, but for legitimate union membership), here is the standard process:
The success of the informal exemption led to its inevitable downfall: widespread fraud. The intense fear of agitating farmers after the Delhi protests meant that most toll plazas in Punjab stopped collecting tolls from farmers. Cunning individuals exploited this climate of fear by procuring farmer union ID cards from cafes and printing shops, using them to evade tolls illegally.
For everyone else, remember: The BKU card is a tool of solidarity, not a legal tender for toll exemption. – The BKU has linked its economic demands
If you are researching this topic for a specific project, please let me know: Are you analyzing the of NHAI exemptions?
To obtain a BKU ID card, farmers and agricultural workers can follow these steps:
The Punjab Police, in a 2022 advisory, warned that “obstructing toll plaza operations using union IDs” could attract charges under the National Highways Act, 1956 (Section 8A) – punishable with up to six months in jail. : Check if you are eligible for a BKU ID card
As 2026 progresses, with reports of roadblocks, police detentions, and "toll-free" hours continuing to surface, it is clear that the BKU remains a formidable force. The ID card is not just proof of membership; it is a badge of a movement that has mastered the art of halting traffic to get the nation’s attention. For the commuter stuck in a jam at the Ladhowal plaza, these protests are an inconvenience. For the BKU member, standing at the barrier with their card in hand, it is the front line of a long, ongoing war for farmer justice in India.
To understand the friction at toll plazas, one must look at how national highways are constructed in agricultural regions. The expansion of India’s highway infrastructure relies heavily on acquiring fertile agricultural land. Farmers in Punjab have long argued that while their lands are sliced open to build high-speed corridors, the resulting toll plazas place an unfair financial burden on the local communities living alongside them.
Over time, the utility of these cards expanded far beyond internal union business. In Punjab, possessing a BKU identity card became synonymous with asserting a collective right to bypass local toll plazas without paying the standard vehicle fees. The Legal and Financial Friction at Toll Plazas