Land pooling policy: Punjab farmer bodies to continue protest till notification issued

The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) held an emergency meeting here on Tuesday and decided to continue with its protest against the land pooling policy till an official notification regarding the withdrawal of the initiative was issued.

The government had announced the withdrawal of the policy on Monday.

The meeting was attended by several prominent farmer leaders, including Balbir Singh Rajewal, Joginder Singh Ugrahan and Raminder Singh Patiala.

At the meeting, the change in the date of the notification for the land pooling policy in the press communique about the withdrawal issued yesterday was discussed.

The farm leaders observed that the land pooling policy was brought by the Punjab Government on June 4, but the orders issued by the state government yesterday mentioned the policy of May 14.

The SKM leaders asked the state government to clarify on this issue by August 20, or they would be forced to intensify their struggle. Along with this, they also demanded that the state government should issue a notification announcing the withdrawal of the policy after getting approval at the Cabinet meeting.

Balbir Singh Rajewal said the farmers’ rally, to be held by the SKM on August 24 in Samrala regarding the land pooling policy and other demands of farmers and labourers, would be held as announced. The next outline of the struggle for the farmers’ demands would be prepared at this rally.

‘Can’t believe in govt plainspeak’

Jalandhar: Meanwhile, several farmer bodies led by the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (non-political) here said they would go ahead with their planned protests on August 19, 20 and 25. The farmer bodies said they would not relent till the government withdrew the policy "legally through the Vidhan Sabha or a decision in the Punjab Cabinet".

“The AAP government has made so many U-turns. We cannot believe in their plainspeak,” said Manjit S Rai, president of the Bharati Kisan Union (Doaba).