Latest news with #SanyuktKisanMorcha
Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Farmers rally in protest of land pooling policy in Ludhiana
Ludhiana: In a strong show of dissent against the Punjab government's land pooling policy, a large number of farmers gathered at Jodhan village near Ludhiana on Wednesday for a massive "Zameen Bachao" (save land) rally. The rally was organised under the leadership of Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (Non-Political), with a united call to protect the state's fertile agricultural land from being handed over to corporate interests. The rally was held at the grain market in Jodhan, drawing large crowds of farmers who arrived in tractors, buses, cars, and motorcycles. The gathering disrupted traffic on roads leading from Raikot to Ludhiana and Mandi Ahmedgarh to Jodhan, forcing commuters to seek alternate routes. Authorities tightened security arrangements in and around the venue. Prominent farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who addressed the rally, accused the Punjab government of siding with corporate houses. He described the proposed land pooling policy as a "black law" aimed at transferring over 65,000 acres of fertile agricultural land—used for growing wheat, paddy, and vegetables—to private corporations. Dallewal warned that the policy could precipitate a severe food crisis. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Rude Neighbor Freezes When He Discovers What's Inside A Tree He Was Asked Not To Cut Down Undo "This is not just about land—this is about our survival, our future generations, and food security. The government is bypassing the Land Acquisition Act and bringing in land pooling to benefit big businesses," said Dallewal. Farmer leaders argued that this policy was part of a broader strategy by both state and central governments to weaken the farming community. Drawing parallels with the now-repealed farm laws, they said this was another indirect attempt to take control of farmers' livelihoods and resources. They also criticised the track record of land pooling policies implemented in the past. According to the speakers, numerous plots acquired by the Punjab government decades ago remain undeveloped, and original landowners have not yet received compensation or the promised residential plots. Many of these farmers, they claimed, have been pushed to the brink of poverty—some even forced to take up jobs like hawking or working as security guards to survive. The rally served as a launchpad for a series of upcoming protests. Leaders announced that on August 16, a larger gathering would be held at Baba Bakala in Amritsar to intensify the movement. On August 25, farmer unions from across India will converge in Delhi for a one-day peaceful protest, demanding that the Centre respect their rights and fulfill promises made during earlier agitations. Farm leaders thanked local residents for organising langar (community meals) during the rally. Speakers at the event came from various states, representing different farmer organisations, including Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) factions from Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana. Those who addressed the rally included Jagjit Singh Dallewal, Baldev Singh Sirsa, Satnam Singh Behru, and representatives of unions like BKU Ekta Sidhupur, BKU Mahatma Tikait, and the Doaba Farmers Welfare Committee. The demands raised at the rally included: Legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price (MSP) Implementation of the Swaminathan Commission report Complete farm debt waiver Restoration of the Land Acquisition Act of 2013 Withdrawal of police cases filed during the previous farmers' movement Rollback of Free Trade Agreements harmful to farmers Justice for victims of the Lakhimpur Kheri violence in Uttar Pradesh MSID:: 123166046 413 | Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and s ilver prices in your area.
Hindustan Times
5 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Punjab: Rallies against land pooling policy on Aug 11, 20
The Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) (non-political) on Tuesday said it had decided to hold a kisan (farmer) maha (grand) rally against state government's land pooling scheme on August 20 in Jalandhar's Kukkad village. Besides, motorcycle rallies will be organised across the state on August 11. Under the scheme, a total of 1,000 acres of land from six villages — Kukkad Pind, Kot Khurd, Kot Kalan, Rehmanpur, Alipur and Nangal Krar Khan — would be acquired. Farmer leaders addressing mediapersons in Jalandhar on Tuesday. SKM senior leader Sarwan Singh Pandher, who was in Jalandhar, said the farmers, farm labourers and traders from across the state would be participating in this mega rally themed 'Zameen Bachao, Pind Bachao and Punjab Bachao Sangarsh'. 'We are not going relent till the government scraps this anti-farmer policy with immediate effect,' he said, adding that not only the agricultural land, even residential areas and grain markets in several districts come under the purview of this policy. Pandher said they have also invited other outfits of the SKM to join the stir but yet to receive any response. Another SKM leader, Manjit Singh Rai, said there is no need of urbanisation in Punjab at such a large scale. 'The state government has been working on the lines of the BJP, which introduced three anti-farmer laws in 2020. The implementation of the land pooling scheme is going to be the last nail in the coffin for the state government and AAP as they have to face serious repercussions,' Rai said. He added that the farmers and their representative bodies were not consulted by the government before drafting this policy. Meanwhile, farmers at Kukkad, situated on the outskirts of Jalandhar city, have also installed boards, banning the entry of AAP leaders in the village.
Time of India
28-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Policy reunites Punjab farmers, tractor rally to set the tone
Bathinda: Having lost momentum after Punjab Police forcibly removed their protests at Shambhu and Khanauri borders with Haryana, farm groups and individual farmers are joining hands again in Punjab — all thanks to the contentious land pooling policy introduced by the AAP govt. Fearing that the policy means they could lose their land, farmers and even those not associated with unions are turning to farm groups to lead the opposition to the policy that envisions state govt taking possession of land by paying Rs 1 lakh a year and developing it into a residential-commercial zone, and returning booths and residential plots to the landowner. The Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) — which had spearheaded the 2020-2021 farm stir on the borders of Delhi — has also okayed the decision of its Punjab chapter to hold tractor marches on July 30 in villages which could be affected by the policy. A call for support to the protest by the national committee of the farm forum Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) has also emboldened the SKM and farmers. Farmers have already started installing flex boards warning Aam Aadmi Party leaders and govt officials from entering their land to promote the policy. Many villages have started coming up with resolutions against the scheme, and it has been learnt that opposition has reached over 100 villages in the state. Though the biggest chunk of land is to be collected in Ludhiana district, small tracts have been identified in Bathinda, Moga, and Ferozepur districts too. In Bathinda, farmers in three villages — Jodhpur Romana, Naruana, and Patti Jhuttika — have already sounded a bugle of protest as 848 acres of land has been identified there under the policy. In Jodhpur Romana, the identified land is nearly 600 acres. Farmers from Jodhpur Romana village attended a meeting convened by farm organisations affiliated with SKM on Saturday and announced their plan to agitate and participate in tractor marches on July 30. Apart from tractor marches by SKM, some other organisations have decided to hold protests at DC offices on July 31. On that day, farm leader Balbir Singh Rajewal is scheduled to address a gathering on land pooling at Lehragaga in Sangrur. "We are determined to oppose the land pooling scheme and do not want to part with our fertile lands. We will go to any length to stop our land from being taken forcibly, and for this, we have approached farmer organisations," said Jodhpur Romana farmers Karnail Singh and Balwant Singh in the presence of farmer organisation BKU (Ekta Ugrahan) secretary Shingara Singh Mann. MSID:: 122934588 413 |
Time of India
25-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Farmer forum Kisan Mazdoor Morcha to support SKM call for tractor marches against AAP govt's land pooling policy
Bathinda: Farmer forum Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) has decided to support the call by Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) for tractor marches against the AAP govt's land pooling policy. in villages across Punjab on July 30 and a rally in Jalandhar on Aug 20. The decisions were made at the morcha national committee meeting held in Delhi on Friday. The morcha leaders stated that the land pooling policy is anti-farmer as the state govt is eyeing thousands of acres of fertile land in the state. The AAP govt is proceeding with collecting land even as farmers are not ready to hand it over in many places, according to the morcha. At the meeting held with Grameen Kisan Mazdoor Samiti president Harwinder Singh Gill and PT John from Kerala in the chair, morcha leader Sarvan Singh Pandher said that issues ranging from the legal right of MSP on crops according to the C2+50% formula as per the Dr M S Swaminathan commission, debt waiver, farm suicides, free trade agreement with the US, Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, and the electricity bill 2022 were discussed. An invitation will also be sent to SKM to resume the unity talks in a joint meeting at Chandigarh on August 26. BOX Kisan panchayats ahead of Delhi mahapanchayat on Aug 25 Farmer forum Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) has decided to hold kisan panchayats across the states ahead of its kisan mahapanchayat in New Delhi on Aug 25. The forum has decided to hold a kisan panchayat at Gautam Budh Nagar in Uttar Pradesh on July 30, Ludhiana in Punjab on Aug 7, Panipat in Haryana on Aug 10, Ganganagar in Rajasthan on Aug 11, Itarsi in Madhya Pradesh on Aug 14, Aligarh in UP on Aug 17, and Sambhal in UP on Aug 18. MSID:: 122903070 413 | MSID:: 122903070 413 |
Time of India
21-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Cost of Shambhu border protest: Farm group Kisan Mazdoor Morcha got 20.6L for 13-month stir, left with Rs 1,734
Bathinda: Farmer forum Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) on Saturday released details of the donations it received and the expenses it made during the 13-month-long protest helmed by the farmers' body at the Shambhu border between Punjab and Haryana from Feb 13, 2024, to Mar 19 this year. The protest, along with another stir helmed by Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) at Khanauri border between the two states, was carried out to demand a legal right for farmers on the minimum support price (MSP) for their crops, calculated for a 50% profit over comprehensive cost. KMM claimed that it received Rs 20,58,254 over the 13 months and spent Rs 20,56,520, leaving it with cash at hand of Rs 1,734. KMM also released a month-wise account of the funds for the period from Feb 2024 to Mar 2025. According to details, KMM received the highest amount in donations in May 2024, getting Rs 6,53,650. The lowest collection was made in Jan 2025, with the group getting just Rs 39,095 for the entire month. The highest expenditure was incurred in April and May 2024, when over Rs 5 lakh each were spent. Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) is yet to release the details of its accounts. The group headed by Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who went on a hunger strike for MSP, said it will make public its accounts on June 25. KMM accounts committee member Guramneet Singh Mangat said they audited their accounts in April, but a couple of receipt books went missing when police forcibly demolished the morcha site on March 19. "We had to find those receipts and then audit the accounts. This is why the process was delayed," he said. SKM (Non-Political) functionary Abhimanyu Kohar said both forums met on June 19, where accounts from both sides were shared. "We are busy with some engagements and the accounts will be put in the public domain on June 25," he said. The collection of funds was mired in controversy even during the previous 2020-21 farmers' protest on the borders of Delhi, as certain leaders alleged misappropriation of funds. MSID:: 121991783 413 |
