HC stays land pooling policy: Aug 16 protest on, says SKM
The announcement came on the day when the Punjab and Haryana high court ordered an interim stay on the operation of the policy but the farm unions insisted that the court's order will not alter their programme.
Speaking at the 'Zameen Bachao Rally' held at the grain market of Jodhan village in Ludhiana, Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ekta) leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal said this is not just about land, it's about the future of Punjab and its people.
'The government wants to take away our fertile land to give it to big companies. The government had taken land in the past, too, promising development and compensation, but never fulfilled those promises. As a result, many families were left without land or money and had to work as labourers to survive. The protest at Baba Bakala on August 16 will be a warning to the Punjab government to roll back the land pooling policy,' Dallewal said.
Supinder Singh Bagga, district president of BKU (Ekta), said that despite the stay by the HC, the union will continue their protest. 'There is no change in the programmes announced by the union,' he added.
Dallewal said over 65,000 acres of farmland, which supports the livelihood of lakhs of people and provides food for crores across India, are at risk. 'The construction of concrete jungles in the name of development will not only displace farmers but also contribute to food insecurity and economic disaster,' he added.
The veteran farm leader, who had spearheaded the SKM protests at Khanauri and Shambhu borders and had sit on a fast-unto-death, said that the farm unions will also intensify stir against the Centre to press for their key demands, including a legal guarantee for minimum support price (MSP), full loan waivers, justice for the Lakhimpur Kheri victims, withdrawal of the free trade agreements, and the implementation of the Swaminathan Commission report.
'As a precursor to this, farmers will hold meetings on August 10 in Panipat, Haryana, on August 11 in Ganganagar, Rajasthan, on August 12 in Hanumangarh, Rajasthan, on August 14 in Itarsi, Madhya Pradesh, on August 15 in Ashok Nagar, Madhya Pradesh and on August 16 in Baba Bakala, Amritsar. Following these, mahapanchayats will be held in Uttar Pradesh on August 17, 18, and 19. After that, on August 25, people from across India will gather in Delhi to raise their voices for their rightful demands, under the call given by SKM (Non-Political) Bharat,' Dallewal said.
The August 25 protests in Delhi will remind the central government of its failed promises and make it clear that the farmers' movement is far from over, he added.
He accused the Punjab government of betraying farmers and misleading them.
On March 19, Punjab Police cracked down on farmers, detaining their leaders in Mohali when they were returning from a meeting with a central delegation in Chandigarh. Following this, the Punjab Police cleared the year-long blockades on the national highways by farmers at the inter-state borders at Shambhu and Khanauri.
Cong welcomes HC stay, demands CM's resignation
Chandigarh : The Punjab Congress on Wednesday welcomed the Punjab and Haryana high court's decision to stay the Land Pooling Policy of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government, calling it a 'victory for the people of Punjab' and a vindication of farmers' concerns. While hailing the court's intervention, the Congress also demanded the resignation of chief minister Bhagwant Singh Mann for attempting to impose an 'anti-farmer and unconstitutional' policy.
State Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring said, 'We welcome the stay and salute the strong resolve of Punjab's people, especially our farmers.'
Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa called the HC's stay a 'historic victory' and accused the Mann government of attempting to circumvent the Land Acquisition Act, 2013.
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