SKM to hold tractor march to protest Punjab govt’s land pooling policy in Ludhiana

Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM)’s call for a tractor march against the land pooling policy of the AAP government is all set to materialise tomorrow. Three protests will be held in Ludhiana district, where over 1000 tractors, cars and motorcycles have been arranged by the protestors. The ruling government plans to acquire maximum land- 24311 acres (for residential) and 21550 acres (for industries) from about 40 Ludhiana villages, including Dana Mandi, Jodhan, Dakha Ground, Mullanpur and Dana Mandi, Koomkalan.

Although the major focus will be against the land-pooling issue, SKM will also hold the protests in all Punjab districts, where there are no land-pooling issues. These protests would be against the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) which will put a dent on agriculture.

Speaking with The Tribune, Raminder Singh Patiala, one of the 11 Members of the National Coordination Committee of SKM said that a good number of farmers, workers, migrants, mechanics, etc. are expected to join the state level protests tomorrow as the land-pooling issue affects all of them.  

Raghbir Singh Benipal, Coordinator for SKM in Ludhiana District said that thousands of farmers would join the protests in Ludhiana as most of the land (a total of over 45,000 acres) is being acquired here. “We will start the march around 11 am and cover the entire villages from where AAP government intends to acquire the land. The land is the only hope for the farmer and this is also being snatched away by the ruling party under the garb of development,” rued Benipal. 

NGOs and social activists have also extended support to the farmers on this issue. 

MLAs’ take on land pooling

Although the MLAs of the ruling party are not openly against the land-pooling policy, they have appealed to bureaucrats and the government to fulfill their promises of “development” within the stipulated time. 

MLA Kulwant Singh Sidhu said that the land-pooling policy was not bad, provided the promises made to the farmers are fulfilled within time. “The main culprits are the big colonizers, whose works have come to a halt under land pooling system. They will not be able to sell their properties at a whopping amount of about Rs 1 lakh per square yard in posh areas, as is being done in Ludhiana. At the same time, I can feel the pain of farmers as my 17 acres land was acquired under Congress regime in 2006 and we were given just Rs 15 lakhs per acre. The farmer must not feel cheated in this exercise,” stressed Sidhu. 

Madan Lal Bagga, another AAP MLA said that the issue has only been raised by the opposition. “I personally met bureaucrats and several policy makers at Chandigarh yesterday and appealed them to implement the policy in toto and development should be witnessed by the masses. Now, the party has decided to come up with policy, it will depend on the bureaucrats how hurriedly they implement it,” said Bagga. 

Citing the example of “Developed” Mohali, AAP MLA Pappi Prashar said that the land was not being acquired from the farmers by force. 

Lambasting the state government for fooling the farmers, social activist Lakha Sidhana said the state government plans to implement the whole issue under the Act, which prohibits the farmers to see and purchase the land, get its CLU done, etc. “This is a trap laid by the government. What will the farmer do when he will not be allowed to use it for commercial purpose or to sale it etc. Not an inch of farmer land be allowed to be acquired under this land-pooling policy, ”said Sidhana.