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Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
SAD to intensify agitation against Punjab govt's land pooling scheme
Chandigarh, Calling it a "fraud with the farmers and other landowners", the Shiromani Akali Dal on Tuesday said the statewide agitation against the Punjab government's land pooling scheme will be further intensified and continue until the ruling A withdraws it. SAD to intensify agitation against Punjab govt's land pooling scheme A resolution to this effect was passed at a meeting of the party's core committee here which was presided over by SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal. The resolution declared, among other things, that the next dharna against this scheme will be held at Bathinda on August 4 and Patiala on August 11 to be followed by similar protests at all other district headquarters. Earlier on Monday, the SAD chief at a dharna in Mohali called the land pooling scheme a "land grabbing scheme". The Aam Aadmi Party government has been facing flak from the opposition parties, which dubbed its land pooling policy a "looting" scheme to "rob" the farmers of their land. The A has out at the opposition parties for spreading misleading propaganda against the state government's land pooling policy, with party leaders describing it as "farmer-friendly". The Punjab Cabinet had last month given its nod to the land pooling policy and asserted that not a single yard would be forcibly acquired from the landowners. Under the land pooling policy, an owner will be given a 1000 square yards of residential plot and a 200 square yards of commercial plot in fully developed land in lieu of one acre of land, the state government had said. After clearing the policy last month, the government had said that it was designed to foster transparent and planned urban development across the state. Meanwhile, Badal before the core committee meeting flagged off the SAD's statewide campaign, "Proud to be Akali" by releasing and pasting stickers on the party workers' vehicles and also releasing flags to be hoisted on homes of all workers and supporters. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
News18
2 days ago
- Politics
- News18
SAD to intensify agitation against Punjab govts land pooling scheme
Chandigarh, Jul 29 (PTI) Calling it a 'fraud with the farmers and other landowners", the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Tuesday said the statewide agitation against the Punjab government's land pooling scheme will be further intensified and continue until the ruling AAP withdraws it. A resolution to this effect was passed at a meeting of the party's core committee here which was presided over by SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal. The resolution declared, among other things, that the next dharna against this scheme will be held at Bathinda on August 4 and Patiala on August 11 to be followed by similar protests at all other district headquarters. Earlier on Monday, the SAD chief at a dharna in Mohali called the land pooling scheme a 'land grabbing scheme". The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government has been facing flak from the opposition parties, which dubbed its land pooling policy a 'looting" scheme to 'rob" the farmers of their land. The AAP has out at the opposition parties for spreading misleading propaganda against the state government's land pooling policy, with party leaders describing it as 'farmer-friendly". The Punjab Cabinet had last month given its nod to the land pooling policy and asserted that not a single yard would be forcibly acquired from the landowners. Under the land pooling policy, an owner will be given a 1000 square yards of residential plot and a 200 square yards of commercial plot in fully developed land in lieu of one acre of land, the state government had said. After clearing the policy last month, the government had said that it was designed to foster transparent and planned urban development across the state. Meanwhile, Badal before the core committee meeting flagged off the SAD's statewide campaign, 'Proud to be Akali" (Mainu Maan Akali Hon Te) by releasing and pasting stickers on the party workers' vehicles and also releasing flags to be hoisted on homes of all workers and supporters. PTI SUN AS AS view comments First Published: July 29, 2025, 21:45 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Policy tailor-made for realtors, plan to tilt emography in long term: Cong
The Opposition parties in Punjab stepped up the offensive against AAP government over its land pooling policy, with Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal calling it a 'land grabbing scheme' and Congress MLA Rana Gurjeet Singh saying that the policy was tailor made to 'favour a handful of realtors'. 'This policy has been tailor made to favour a handful of real estate developers who have already bought land in Punjab. The idea behind this scheme is not only to ensure that uncontrolled urbanisation takes place but also that there is a huge influx of persons from other states which will tilt the demographics and make Punjabis a minority in their own state,' said Rana Gurjeet. The Kapurthala MLA further alleged that there was an intention that the land acquisition under this scheme gets mired in litigation so that the real estate developers associated with AAP reap a windfall because their land parcels will be free from any legal encumbrance while a substantial portion of land along major cities will tied in litigation. 'It is a deep rooted conspiracy with ulterior motives and malafide intention,' he said. He questioned the rationale behind such a massive land acquisition initiative. 'Where is the demand for 65,333 acres of land? Since the reorganisation of Punjab in 1966, only around 25,000 acres have been developed for urban estates and settlements. On coming to power in 2027 the Congress party will immediately scrap this ill-conceived and lopsided policy,' he said. Meanwhile, accusing AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal of being behind the scheme, SAD chief Sukhbir Badal told reporters on the sidelines of the protest in Mohali, 'It is not a land pooling scheme, but land grabbing scheme. People of Punjab, including the poor and farmers, will not allow them (the government) to implement this policy. 'Shiromani Akali Dal will not allow one inch of land to be acquired in the state. We will fight the farmers' battle. Punjab belongs to Punjabis, while Kejriwal represents the liquor mafia,' he said. Addressing the gathering in Mohali, Badal said, 'The magnitude of land loot by the Delhi masters of the AAP government in Punjab has no precedent in history. And there is no development rationale behind it.' 'The 2,000 acres acquired for the Aerotropolis project in Mohali is still not utilised, while the government is going ahead with grabbing another 3,535 acres in its extension alone,' Badal alleged. The Akali Dal chief reiterated that his party would not allow the government 'to grab even an inch of farmers' land'. 'I am ready to sacrifice anything but we will never allow any land to be taken by the government without the farmers' prior consent,' he said. Punjab Congress president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring, meanwhile, accused the AAP government of trying 'to snatch away the land of farmers without paying them anything'. Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira, who is also the chairman of the All India Kisan Congress, said that even AAP MP Malvinder Singh Kang had, in a post on X, flagged doubts about the 'dubious' land pooling policy being pursued vigorously by the state government, 'but it was shameful for Kang to delete the post under pressure from his Delhi bosses like Arvind Kejriwal'. 'The objections raised by farmer unions must, in my view, be heard with empathy and addressed through meaningful dialogue,' Kang had said in a post on X on Sunday. In a post on X on Monday, Khaira shared Kang's now deleted post. Stating that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's 'double face' stands exposed, Khaira claimed that while in opposition, Mann batted for democratic ways to fight wrongful acquisition of land, 'but now in power he's doing the same forcible acquisitions'. Rana Gurjeet said the policy was silent on the landless rural population who rely on agricultural employment for their survival. 'Who will take care of the landless population in villages who are dependent on landowners,' he asked. He further asked, 'What is the guarantee that landowners, who will be divested of their ancestral land, will receive the promised sustenance allowance? This would amount to Rs 653.33 crore, and the government, which is surviving on mounting debt, is in no position to deliver'.
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Mohali: SAD protests land pooling policy, calls it ‘anti-farmer'
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) led by its president Sukhbir Singh Badal held a protest outside PUDA Bhawan in Sector 62, Mohali, on Monday, against the Punjab government's land pooling policy, branding it as 'anti-farmer'. The protest—part of SAD's statewide agitation—covered the districts of Mohali, Ropar, and Fatehgarh Sahib. The next protest has been scheduled for August 4 in Bathinda. SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal among other leaders during protest outside GMADA office in Mohali on Monday. (Ravi Kumar/HT) Addressing the gathering, Badal alleged that the scale of 'land loot' being carried out by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government at the behest of its 'Delhi masters' is unprecedented in Punjab's history. 'There is no development rationale behind this move. Even the 2,000 acres acquired earlier for the Aerotropolis project in Mohali remain unused, yet the government is now moving to seize another 3,535 acres,' he claimed. Reiterating his party's stand, Badal said SAD would not allow the Punjab government to 'grab even an inch of farmers' land without their consent'. 'I am ready to make any sacrifice, but we will never permit land to be taken forcefully,' he added. Badal alleged that the state government had stripped farmers of their fundamental right to obtain Change of Land Use (CLU) permissions, even for land not formally acquired. 'There is no precedent for such sweeping deprivation of rights. Tehsildars have already issued orders banning CLU in these areas,' he added. Drawing a contrast with the AAP's approach, Badal highlighted that the SAD government under late Parkash Singh Badal had implemented land acquisition policies only after consulting farmers. 'Our committee, which included local sarpanches, ensured land rates reflected prevailing market values,' he said. SAD leader Shamlal Chaudhary echoed the sentiment, calling the policy a 'subtle ploy' by the AAP government to loot the farming community. 'This is not land pooling, it's land looting,' he said, questioning, 'Who will part with one acre of prime land for just a thousand yards in return?' Several senior SAD leaders, including Dr Daljit Singh Cheema, NK Sharma, Hira Singh Gabria, Parminder Singh Sohana, Gurpreet Singh Raju Khanna, Sarabjit Singh Jhinjar, Sohan Singh Thandal, Darbara Singh Guru, Arshdeep Kler, Ranbir Singh SOI, Gulzari Moonak, Kuldeep Kaur Kang, Charanjit Singh Kalewal, Baljit Singh Bhutta, Ravinder Khera, and Jasbir Kaur, also addressed the gathering.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Sikh girl not allowed to take exam for wearing ‘kada', Badal writes to PM
Chandigarh: Expressing grave concern over "growing incidents of disrespect and discrimination against the sacred symbols of the Sikh religion", Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president on Sunday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to "intervene directly to put an end to this painful chain of events in the country". Tired of too many ads? go ad free now In a letter to the Prime Minister, Badal sought to draw the PM's attention to an incident on Sunday in which a baptised Sikh girl, from Tarn Taran district, was reportedly stopped from entering the examination centre as a candidate for the Rajasthan Judicial Services at Poornima University, Jaipur, on the plea that she was wearing her sacred articles of faith – 'kada' and 'kirpan'. "This was a gross violation of her constitutional rights guaranteed under Article 25 of the Statute, and it denied her fundamental right to practise her religion. Article 25 of the Constitution specifically mentions 'kirpan' among other symbols of the Sikh religion, which are exempt from any bar even on flights," Badal said. He added in the letter to the PM, "It is shocking that rules, if any, are framed by lower authorities flouting the sacred Constitution of India. The govt of India should issue -- or, if necessary -- re-issue clear-cut guidelines to all states and Union Territories about the exemption to the inseparable articles of faith." Badal stated that it was "not a one-off incident but part of the ever-increasing number of examples of religious intolerance towards the uniqueness of Sikh identity. In a similar incident last year, two Sikh girls were stopped from appearing for Rajasthan Judicial Services (RJS) in an exam centre in Jodhpur." "Sikhs and their identity are inseparable, and this was duly acknowledged and constitutionally mandated for compliance for all purposes in the country by the Founding Fathers. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now But some officials at lower rungs deem themselves even above the Constitution. This must stop as this vitiates communal harmony in the country," Badal wrote in the letter to the PM. "You are personally aware of the profound spiritual and emotional significance of the Sikh religious symbols and what these mean to our devoutly religious and fiercely patriotic community. I request you to issue immediate directions for compliance to ensure full respect to these symbols at all levels across the country," the letter read. Badal also urged the Rajasthan high court to provide the victimised Sikh girl, Gurpreet Kaur, a special opportunity to appear for the RJS examination, ensuring her right to uphold her faith is respected. Earlier in the morning, the SAD president had taken to X, asking Rajasthan chief minister Bhajan Lal to take strict action against the guilty officials to ensure such incidents were not repeated in his state. Will Raise Issue in Parliament: Harsimrat Kaur Badal SAD MP from Bathinda, Harsimrat Kaur Badal, while condemning the incident as "unfortunate and discriminatory" and demanding strict action against officials who "barred" the girl from appearing in the examination, took to X and wrote, "I will definitely raise this issue in Parliament so that such incidents do not happen with our Sikh children in the future and a permanent solution is found."
