Farmers submit objections against land pooling policy, burn govt’s effigy

A lager number of farmers, led by the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee, gathered outside the office of the Punjab Urban Development Authority (PUDA) here today, to protest against the government’s land pooling policy. The protesters burnt an effigy of the Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab Government and submitted formal objections against the policy.

Farmers, whose land is to be acquired under the land pooling policy, expressed strong opposition, demanding that the policy be withdrawn immediately. They said no farmer was willing to hand over his land to the government under the current terms.

Sarwan Singh Pandher, state leader of the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee, addressed the gathering and urged farmers to participate in large numbers in the upcoming protests, including a motorcycle rally on August 11 and a mass rally in Jalandhar on August 20, to intensify their resistance.

Around 60 farmers’ submitted objections at the PUDA office, with many hailing from villages including Adliwal, Ladeh and Rajasansi. Dilbagh Singh Gill, a farmer from Kotla village, said, “I have submitted my objection. I will not give up my land at any cost. It is the only source of our livelihood.”

Another local farmer, Jaswant Singh from Rajasansi said, “We were never consulted about this policy. Now, they are trying to acquire our land without our consent. It feels like we’re being pushed off our own soil.”

Some farmers from the Gurdaspur district alleged that the government was forcibly acquiring their land without consent, which they termed was unjust and undemocratic. During the protest, Sarwan Singh Pandher also met PUDA officials and conveyed farmers’ demand for the withdrawal of the land pooling policy. Farmers maintained that any policy that takes away their land against their will was unacceptable. They warned of intensifying agitation if their demands were not met.