Farmers, workers take out motorcycle march to protest land pooling policy

A large number of farmers took out a massive motorcycle rally across the district to protest against the Punjab government’s land pooling policy. The protest organised by the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, saw thousands of farmers riding motorcycles to show their opposition to the policy. The march was peaceful but powerful and drew a lot of attention due to the large crowds and strong participation.

Sarwan Singh Pandher, general secretary of the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee (KMSC) and a leading figure in the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, spoke to the media during the rally. He said that the Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab government must rethink the land pooling policy because a majority of farmers are strongly against it.

“The sooner the government cancels this policy, the better it will be for everyone.” He also added that farmer organisations will continue their protests in villages and streets, and there will be no compromise on the issue.

The Kisan Mazdoor Morcha has also announced a mega rally in Kukkar village in Jalandhar on August 20, where thousands of people are expected to gather to raise their voice against the policy. Pandher mentioned that similar motorcycle rallies held in other districts were also successful and received huge support from the farming community.

Leaders from several other farmer unions, such as Jasvinder Singh Longowal, Baldev Singh Jeera and Manjeet Singh Rai, also appealed to the people of Punjab to join the upcoming rally in large numbers. They said this fight was not just about land, but also about protecting the future of Punjab’s farmers and villages.

Protests in Tarn Taran

Expressing their resentment against the land pooling policy of the state government, activists of the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM), led by the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee, Punjab, staged a motorcycle rally in a number of villages in the district on Monday.

Satnam Singh Manochahal, district president of the KMSC, addressing a gathering near the District Administrative Complex (DAC), condemned the land pooling policy of the state government. He said farmers of the state would not allow the government to encroach on their land in any way. He said the KMSC would not allow the state government and the powercom to instal chip meters.

He said farmers have decided not to allow any of the leaders of the ruling AAP to implement anti- farmer policies. The KMSC is seeking waiver of the loan of farmers and workers. The committee has been demanding compensation worth Rs 3.77 crore for the machinery damaged while committing torture on agitating farmers staging a dharna at the Shambhu-Khanauri border.

Manochahal said in the district, workers of the KMSC took out tractor marches at Chabal, Patti, Khadoor Sahib, Bhikhiwind, Valtoha, Gohalwar and burnt effigies of the AAP government.