Sukhbir leads SAD protest against Ludhiana land pooling scheme
Ludhiana:
Shiromani Akali Dal
president
Sukhbir Singh Badal
on Wednesday led a protest against AAP govt in Punjab over a land pooling scheme recently notified by the Greater Ludhiana Area Development Authority (GLADA).
Under the scheme, govt plans to aquire around 24,000 acres of farmland in more than 40 villages around Ludhiana. Sukhbir vowed to prioritise Punjabi youth when giving govt jobs and ensure that only Punjabis bought farmland in Punjab.
Addressing party leaders and workers who participated in the protest on Ferozepur Road outside the GLADA office, Sukhbir said, "Other states like Himachal, Uttarakhand, and Rajasthan do not allow any outsider to get govt jobs and purchase land in their states, so why should Punjab not give priority to its own people?"
He added even foreign countries were not allowing Punjabis entry into their states, so there was a need to create opportunities for Punjabi youngsters.
Sukhbir said only a regional party could understand the pain of its people, while others like AAP, Congress and BJP only wanted to exploit its resources. He said it was only during the tenure of former CM Parkash Singh Badal that land acquired for SYL was de-notified and returned to farmers. "Every time Punjab has suffered the maximum loss, whether during the Independence war, or any other war with Pakistan or China. During this recent war with Pakistan, too, there were attacks in Punjab.
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When we sacrifice for this country, why should we not get returns too?" he said.
Badal said pooling scheme had been brought in by AAP just to "mint money". "But it will impact farmers who will not be able to earn their livelihood. The SAD will not let even a single inch of land be acquired for this scheme," he added.
Sukhbir urged people to identify those who were fighting for their interests and thsoe who were against them. He added if electors in Punjab could give 92 seats to AAP, they could also elect 100 Akali MLAs in the next assembly elections.
In the end, Badal also advised the bureaucracy not to become a puppet in the hands of AAP govt. "When voters reject AAP in the 2027 assembly elections, action will be taken against officials who committed wrongs over these five years," he added.
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