Farmers protest against Punjab Government's land pooling policy with massive Tractor demonstrations in Jalandhar

Farmer leader and Bharatiya Kisan Union Doaba state president, Manjit S Rai, has issued a warning to the government, stating that any attempt to forcibly acquire farmers’ land will lead to violent protests across Punjab.

Rai, who led a massive tractor march in Hoshiarpur, made it clear that this time, protests may not remain peaceful. “If the government tries to use force, there will be strong retaliatory reactions from our side,” he said, warning of serious unrest in the state.

Rai, whose own 7 acres of farmland is in the land acquisition zone, emphasised that farmers are ready to fight to protect their land at all costs. “I am not just a leader but also a victim. If they try to take our land by force, the consequences can be dangerous,” he added. He further warned that AAP leaders, land acquisition officials and police personnel will not be tolerated in their villages, urging that if they come, they “must wear shields.”

Fearing a forceful land grab, Rai stated that farmers suspect the government might attempt to seize their land with police assistance. “We are ready to sacrifice everything to save our fields,” he said.

Rai outlined the upcoming steps of the protest, including a motorcycle march across Punjab on August 11 and two significant mahapanchayats—one by Kisan Mazdoor Morcha on August 28 in Jalandhar and another by Samyukt Kisan Morcha on August 24.

He also criticised the government’s plans, claiming that while it has announced the development of 27 colonies, in reality, 165 such colonies and industrial parks are in the pipeline, requiring the acquisition of 1.5 lakh acres of land. Rai accused the government of trying to take a Rs 1.5 lakh crore loan from the World Bank under the guise of development. “This is not land pooling, its land grabbing,” he said.

Rai further pointed out that even if a farmer receives one acre of developed land in return, they will still have to pay exorbitant development charges—around RS 60 lakh per acre, a cost beyond the means of most farmers.

He questioned the logic of developing new colonies when many existing housing and industrial plots remain unsold, adding that these new colonies could stay vacant for years due to the migration of many Punjabis abroad. “If this policy continues, it will leave us landless and bankrupt,” Rai warned.