Land pooling policy: SAD protests in Mohali; won’t allow land loot, says Sukhbir Badal

Hundreds of SAD workers led party president Sukhbir Singh Badal staged a protest against the AAP government’s land pooling policy here on Monday.

Addressing party workers, he said the 2,000 acres acquired for the Aerotropolis project in Mohali were still remaining unused while the government was going ahead with its plan to acquire 3,535 acres.

“We will not allow this land loot,” he said slamming ruling AAP.

The protest was part of a series of events to be held by the SAD against the policy. The next stir is slated for August 4 in Bathinda.

Senior party leaders, Daljit Singh Cheema, NK Sharma, Hira Singh Gabria, Parminder Singh Sohana, Gurpreet Singh Raju Khanna, Sarabjit Singh Jhinjar and Jasbir Kaur also addressed the gathering.

Former minister dares Mann for debate

Congress leader and former Punjab Health Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu challenged Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to a public debate on the policy, accusing him of misleading the public by claiming that land would only be acquired with farmers’ consent.

Sidhu said the policy nowhere guaranteed it. “Instead, it explicitly mentions that land falling within project boundaries will be acquired under the Land Acquisition Act, 2013. Additionally, under provisions related to mega projects, the government is empowered to acquire up to 10 per cent of the total project area to fill any critical gap.,” he said.

The Congress leader alleged that these provisions essentially allow the government to forcibly acquire land, despite claims of voluntary participation.