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The Hindu
5 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Land pooling policy: SAD stages demonstration; AAP govt tweaks policy
Even as Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) members on Tuesday (July 22, 2025) staged a demonstration against the Punjab government's land pooling policy, the State cabinet approved several amendments to the Land Pooling Policy-2025. SAD leaders and workers demonstrated in Ludhiana against the policy. Addressing a gathering, SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal termed the policy as 'anti-farmers' and appealed to village panchayats affected by the policy to pass resolutions against it. He said the SAD would intensify its agitation against the land pooling policy across the State by holding demonstrations (dharnas). 'On July 28, we will hold 'dharna' in Mohali and on August 4 in Bathinda,' he said. Meanwhile, the Cabinet meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann in its amendments approved that farmers will now receive an annual livelihood allowance of ₹1 lakh until their land is developed — a fivefold increase compared to the ₹20,000 given by previous governments, said an official statement. 'The government has also assured long-term support by announcing a 10% annual increment in this ₹1 lakh amount. To ensure faster and more transparent processes, the government will now issue a Letter of Intent (LOI) to farmers within 21 days. For the convenience of farmers, the LOI can be sold or used to obtain loans. Furthermore, until development work actually begins, farmers can continue cultivating their land and will receive an additional ₹50,000 per year from the government,' the statement added.
Time of India
6 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Sukhbir ups ante against govt over land-pooling
Ludhiana: Shiromani Akali Dal Tuesday intensified its protest against Punjab govt's plan to pool about 40,000 acres of land in 164 villages of the state to come up with urban estates and industrial pockets. The biggest chunk of land — about 25,000 acres — is to be pooled in Ludhiana alone. Badal appealed to the panchayats of affected villages to pass a resolution in their respective areas, stating that they would not allow even an inch of land to be acquired by Punjab govt, come what may. Addressing a protest at Ferozepur Road near the mini secretariat, the SAD president demanded the immediate revocation of the entire 40,000-acre land acquisition plan. He said the SAD would intensify the agitation against the "land grab" by holding weekly protests, with the first one being held on July 28 in Mohali and on August 4 at Bathinda. Significantly, this is the third time in the last two months that the SAD chief has addressed gatherings and led protests in Ludhiana against the land pooling policy. The issue has snowballed into a political controversy with a large number of farmer organisations and opposition parties stiffly opposing the move. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like This Could Be the Best Time to Trade Gold in 5 Years IC Markets Learn More Undo Badal kept on raising the issue even while campaigning for the SAD candidate during the Ludhiana (West) bypoll, despite the fact that the assembly segment was purely an urban pocket. Initially, SAD had planned Tuesday's protest on July 15 but postponed it to July 22 amid the forecast of heavy rain. Though Ludhiana saw heavy rain Tuesday as well, SAD president Sukhbir Badal announced on social media in the morning that the protest will be held as planned and not pushed forward any further. On the other hand, Punjab cabinet Tuesday amended the policy whereby even those who will pool one kanal of land will be given 125 square yards residential plot and 25 square yards of commercial space in the developed land parcel. Moreover, the govt has also offered that even after pooling their land, farmers can keep cultivating their land and the govt will offer them Rs 50,000 per acre per year. After the govt takes possession of such land, the amount would be raised to Rs one lakh per acre, with a 10% hike every year till the parcel is developed.
Indian Express
7 hours ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Punjab Land Pooling Policy: ‘Pass resolutions that you will not part with your land', Sukhbir Badal tells panchayats
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal Tuesday asked village panchayats to pass resolutions that they would not give their land to the AAP government under its land pooling policy. Terming it a 'land-grabbing scheme', Badal said his party would not allow even one inch of land to be acquired in the state come what may. Addressing a 'dharna' outside the deputy commissioner's office in Ludhiana, Badal demanded the immediate revocation of AAP government's plan to acquire 40,000 acres of land under its land pooling policy. He said SAD would intensify the agitation against the 'land grab' by holding weekly 'dharnas', with protests being held on July 28 in Mohali and on August 4 in Bathinda. Badal also accused AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal of being behind this 'loot in league with builders of Delhi who had been promised large land parcels as per their wishes'. 'I warn the chief secretary, who has been made chairman of all development authorities, as well as their members that they would be held accountable for illegalities being committed in land acquisition processes in the state,' he added. Badal claimed that the AAP government proposed to acquire 40,000 acres of land, including 24,000 in Ludhiana itself, under the archaic State Land Acquisition Act, 1995 instead of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013. He said the 1995 law allowed for excluding land parcels from acquisition and lease as well as allowing auction or allotment of land as per the wishes of the ruling dispensation. 'This will open the doors for corruption and allow select parcels to be excluded from auction at the whims and fancies of the government. In direct contrast, the Land Acquisition Act, 2013 calls for giving compensation at four times the collector rate besides a resettlement scheme,' he said, claiming that under the land-pooling policy, the small farmers will be the biggest losers. 'Those possessing 50 acres of land would be eligible to get back 60 per cent of the same, whereas those possessing nine acres would only get 33 per cent back. Farmers would additionally not be allowed to sell the land, take loan on it or undertake change of land use (CLU) once the notification for acquisition is done', he said. Senior party leader Dr Daljit Singh Cheema said Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had tried to justify the policy. He said if the policy had been made keeping in mind the welfare of farmers then the chief minister should tell why he has been replaced as chairman of development authorities and gave this post to the chief secretary. On the issue of sacrilege incidents in 2015, when the SAD-BJP government was in power, Badal said such incidents started in Punjab only after the advent of AAP in the state in 2014. He said the issue of sacrilege was used to defame the SAD by both the AAP and the Congress to stop the Akali juggernaut, which would have otherwise swept the state for the third successive term in 2017. He said these elements did not allow a state probe into the cases of sacrilege and demanded they be handed over to the CBI. 'We transferred the cases to the CBI from where they were taken back by the Congress. Since then only politics has been done on this sensitive issue by both the AAP and Congress even as the culprits roam free,' Badal said. In stark contrast, he said, the SAD had got to the bottom of both Moga and Malerkotla sacrilege cases and ensured conviction. Badal also accused Kejriwal of supporting AAP MLA legislator Naresh Yadav, who was accused of committing the Malerkotla sacrilege. 'The AAP government forced the complainant to take back his complaint. Later despite being convicted, Kejriwal re-nominated Yadav for the party ticket from Mehrauli (in Delhi). All this only goes on to prove that AAP leaders had a hand in sacrilege incidents. We will get to the bottom of this once the SAD forms the government and punish the perpetrators', he said.
News18
10 hours ago
- Politics
- News18
Badal slams Punjab govt over land-pooling policy
Agency: PTI Last Updated: Ludhiana, Jul 22 (PTI) Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal on Tuesday slammed the AAP government over its land-pooling policy and asked village panchayats to pass resolutions against any acquisition of land. Calling the land-pooling policy a 'land-grabbing scheme", Badal said his party would not allow one inch of land to be acquired in the state come what may. Addressing a 'dharna' outside the deputy commissioner's office here against the land-pooling policy, the SAD president demanded the immediate revocation of the entire 40,000 acres of land acquisition plan. He said SAD would intensify the agitation against the 'land grab" by holding weekly 'dharnas', with protests being held on July 28 in Mohali and on August 4 in Bathinda. Badal accused AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal of being behind this 'loot in league with builders of Delhi who had been promised large land parcels as per their wishes". He warned the chief secretary, who has been made chairman of all development authorities, as well as their members that they would be held accountable for illegalities being committed in land acquisition processes in the state. Badal claimed that the AAP government proposed to acquire 40,000 acres of land, including 24,000 in Ludhiana itself, under the archaic State Land Acquisition Act, 1995 instead of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013. He said the 1995 law allowed for excluding land parcels from acquisition and lease as well as allowing auction or allotment of land as per the wishes of the ruling dispensation. 'This will open the doors for corruption and allow select parcels to be excluded from auction at the whims and fancies of the government. In direct contrast, the Land Acquisition Act, 2013 calls for giving compensation at four times the collector rate besides a resettlement scheme". He claimed that under the land-pooling policy, the small farmers will be the biggest losers. 'Those possessing 50 acres of land would be eligible to get back 60 per cent of the same, whereas those possessing nine acres would only get 33 per cent back. Farmers would additionally not be allowed to sell the land, take loan on it or undertake change of land use (CLU) once the notification for acquisition is done", he said. Senior leader Dr Daljit Singh Cheema said Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had tried to justify the policy. He said if the policy had been made keeping in mind the welfare of farmers then the chief minister should tell why he has been replaced as chairman of development authorities and gave this post to the chief secretary. The AAP government has been facing flak from the opposition parties over the land-pooling policy. Even farmer bodies, including the Samukta Kisan Morcha, have also opposed the scheme. The Punjab Cabinet last month gave its nod to the land-pooling policy and had then asserted that not even a single yard will be forcibly acquired from land owners. PTI COR CHS MNK MNK view comments First Published: July 22, 2025, 19:45 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
14 hours ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
As Punjab BJP chief makes emotive pitch for alliance revival, mixed reactions from Akali side
There is a fresh buzz around a possible revival of the ties between the Sukhbir Badal-led Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and BJP, long-term allies who fell apart during the farm law protests. The speculation isn't new. Last year too, ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, talks of a SAD-BJP revival had gained traction in political circles. Back then, BJP state president Sunil Jakhar had said 'if the SAD-BJP alliance happens, it will be as per the emotion of masses'. However, the parties eventually decided to contest the Lok Sabha elections independently amid fresh farmers' protests on the Punjab-Haryana border, with the BJP-led Central government under fire for holding out on the demand for legally guaranteed minimum support prices (MSP). As the 2027 Assembly elections in Punjab draw near, the conversation around the alliance has returned, with Jakhar this time reiterating the need for a SAD-BJP partnership. 'The alliance in the state is the need of the hour as forces inimical to Punjab are once again active,' said Jakhar. Making an emotive pitch for the alliance, Jakhar said, 'Punjab is not just a state — it's a deeply emotional and self-respecting society. Punjabis are resilient, proud of their history, and driven by sentiment. But over time, they feel they have been wronged, their sacrifices unrecognised, and their contributions overlooked. They seek more than financial packages… They seek recognition, respect, and a sense of belonging.' 'Pagri means not only turban, but also symbolises 'sardari' — self-esteem. The people of Punjab need a party that speaks from the heart, not just as administrators but as one of their own. That's where the BJP needs to position itself — with young, credible, honest, and uncompromised leaders who represent the spirit of Punjab. Our focus should not be about electoral gains, but gaining the trust of Punjabis,' Jakhar added. However, not all on the Akali side have welcomed the idea. While leaders of a rebel SAD faction dismissed the alliance proposal, the Sukhbir Badal-led party took a cautious line. Daljeet Singh Cheema, a former state minister and senior leader in the Sukhbir-led SAD, said, 'Jakhar sahab's statement reflects public sentiment and his personal political experience. We too sense this sentiment — rural and urban Punjab both desire a stable and secular government. However, whether or not an alliance is formed will be decided on the party platform after evaluating many factors.' However, Charanjeet Singh Brar, a senior leader from the rebel faction of the SAD that has aligned with the Akal Takht (which is the highest seat of Sikh temporal authority and had last year held Sukhbir guilty of religious misconduct), questioned Jakhar's eagerness. 'Why is Sunil Jakhar in such a hurry for an alliance when the Akali Dal is at its all-time low? What about unresolved issues — the control of gurdwara committees in Haryana and Delhi, Sikh prisoners who have completed their sentences but remain in jail, and the pending Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) elections for over 15 years?' Brar said. A senior leader from the same rebel faction, speaking on condition of anonymity, also challenged Jakhar's contention that the 'public sentiment and political situation is similar to that of 1996', the year the SAD and BJP first came together. 'How can Jakhar equate the 1996 conditions with today? Back then, the SAD was strong and the BJP was emerging. Now, the SAD is at its weakest while the BJP is at its peak nationally. Is this eagerness for an alliance with the Akali Dal or the Badal family?' the leader said. The SAD-BJP alliance was first forged in 1996, at a time when Punjab was recovering from a period of Khalistani militancy. In the 1997 state elections, the alliance won a thumping majority with 95 seats in the 117-member Assembly. After the alliance broke in 2020, the parties contested the 2022 Assembly and 2024 Lok Sabha polls independently, but neither tasted success. Though the BJP's vote share has improved over the years, it has not translated into seats. Since falling out of power in 2017, the SAD's influence and vote bank have eroded as it faced a series of controversies – from the sacrilege cases in 2015 to last year's standoff between Sukhbir and the Akal Takht. In the 2022 Assembly polls, the SAD and BJP won three and two seats respectively. In the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, the SAD won only one seat while the BJP failed to win any. In subsequent bypolls too, the two parties failed to make an impact. The ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) said they were not worrying about the old allies coming together. Neel Garg, senior AAP spokesperson, said, 'Zero plus zero equals zero. Since 1996, when the alliance was formed, Punjab has seen a downfall in farming, panthic norms, and federal values. The Akali Dal hit rock bottom due to incidents like the Bargari sacrilege, where culprits were never arrested. The BJP's role in pushing the three farm laws led to the loss of over 750 farmers' lives. Punjab hasn't forgotten and won't forgive.' Punjab Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring echoed the AAP's sentiments. 'Sunil Jakhar has a hidden alliance with the Akali Dal already… Why did the BJP break the alliance with the SAD in the first place? Earlier they thought they could do something on their own in Punjab, and now that they are being shown the ground realities by voters … they have started remembering communal harmony all of a sudden. The Akali Dal is already dead and hence zero plus zero is equal to zero only.'
