‘Assi jitt gaye': farmers, labour unions welcome move… but wait for withdrawal of notification

Indian Express

5 days ago

As the Punjab government withdrew its controversial land pooling policy on Monday following intense state-wide protests, farmers and labour unions welcomed the decision and said that it was a victory of the people of the state.
Sarwan Singh Pandher, coordinator of Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM), said, that the government was forced to withdraw the policy owing to pressure from the people. 'It is the people's victory. The Punjab government had to withdraw it's own order and this was possible because of the combined effort of Punjab's farmers, Mazdoor unions, and people from all walks of life. Otherwise, the government was hell-bent on acquiring 65,533 acres of fertile land, which was nothing short of an act of theft from farmers. Farmers had said that not even an inch would be given to the government, so they had no choice but to withdraw the policy. It's not that they had any special concern for farmers.'
He, however, cautioned that technicalities needed to be studied. 'We need to see whether the notification has also been withdrawn. The policy was passed by the Punjab Cabinet, so we must examine if it has been scrapped in letter and spirit. We will discuss this in our meeting soon,' he said.
KMM had planned a mahapanchayat on August 20 in Jalandhar outside the PUDA office and is yet to decide whether it will be cancelled.
Meanwhile, the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) has called an emergency meeting on Tuesday to decide the next course of action.
SKM leader Prem Singh Bhangu, who is president of the All India Kisan Federation, said, 'The widespread resentment and anger of farmers and landless people in the state has compelled the government to withdraw this anti-people policy. It is the moral and political defeat of the government and the victory of the people. The notification must also be withdrawn immediately. We will continue our protest for other demands until the government abandons its pro-corporate policies and addresses farmers' genuine problems.'
BKU Dakaunda general secretary Jagmohan Singh Patiala recalled Prime Minister Narendra Modi's statement after repealing the three farm laws in 2021. 'Soon, we will hear from AAP leaders that the policy was good but farmers could not understand it — just like Modi had said. CM Bhagwant Mann will also say the same. But Punjab has always stood against injustice, and AAP sensed the anger in villages, so they had to bow to public pressure,' he said.
Several villages had even banned AAP leaders from entering their villages and had also put up boards with slogans such as 'Bhagwant Mann Bhajao, Punjab Bachao' and 'Kejriwal Bhajao, Zameen Bachao'.
Didar Singh Malak, from Malak village in Jagraon constituency, said, 'Our village was the first to put up such posters. AAP leaders are still not welcome here. They can't regain the trust now. Assi jitt gaye.'
However, Neel Garg, chief spokesperson of AAP Punjab, defended the government's stand in a post on X, stating, 'The land pooling policy was introduced in the interest of farmers. The AAP has always stood with the farmers. If farmers do not like this policy, why should we impose it? Therefore, respecting the voice of the farmers, we are withdrawing it.'