Labourers lend support to movement against Punjab govt’s land pooling policy

Office-bearers and activists of various outfits working for rights of agricultural labourers and MGNREGA workers announced their support to the coordinated movement against the Punjab Government’s land pooling policy. The announcement was made during the concluding session of a protest rally held at Jodhan village on Sunday.

Former legislator Tarsem Singh Jodhan said office-bearers and activists of various outfits working for farmers, agricultural labourers and MGNREGA workers from the region had gathered at Jodhan village under the banner of “Kamm (work) bachao, khet bachao, pind bachao action committee” to protest against the government’s decision to snatch land from innocent farmers of these villages.

Addressing the gathering, speakers, including Tarsem Jodhan, general secretary, Bhaie Lalo Lok Manch, Balbir Singh Rajjewal, BKU leader, Balkaur Singh, president, Bhaie Lalo Lok Manch, Balwinder Sekhon, Lok Adhikar leader, and Pargat Singh, from Jamhoori Kisan Sabha, alleged that the Aam Aadmi Party government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann started toeing anti-people and anti-farmer policies. They said the ruling dispensation was bent upon smashing the backbone of economy of the state by destroying fertile land just to appease corporate sector by facilitating construction of barren skyscraper buildings.

Protesters cautioned that the demography of the state would drastically change in case the government was allowed to succeed in its sinister designs to acquire more than 25,000 acres of land belonging to 30 villages in Ludhiana district.

Speakers alleged that thousands of self-employed rural youths, agricultural labourers, MNREGA workers and small traders would be affected adversely in case the land was snatched from farmers.

Speakers urged the government to accept and implement long-pending demands of agricultural labourers and MGNREGA workers.