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Hindustan Times
17 hours ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Punjab: Opposition leaders, farmers hail land pooling policy's withdrawal
With the state government on Monday withdrawing its much-hyped land pooling policy, Opposition leaders as well as farmers welcomed the decision, terming it a victory for the people. Farmers during a rally against the land pooling policy at the Golden Gate in Amritsar on Monday. (Sameer Sehgal/HT) Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring said farmers stood vindicated in their opposition to the land pooling policy which would not only have 'turned them into paupers, but would have damaged Punjab socially, economically and environmentally'. 'It is a victory for the farmers,' he said, claiming that the state government's aim was to 'rob' farmers of the land worth lakhs of crores of rupees 'without any compensation and without their consent'. Punjab BJP president Sunil Jakhar said the BJP had been strongly opposing the AAP government's land pooling policy which aimed to 'seize' farmers' land. 'The party actively raised public awareness about it. Ultimately, the government was forced to withdraw the policy. This is a victory for the unity of Punjab's people. Congratulations to Punjab's farmers,' he said. Ashwani Sharma, working president of BJP's Punjab unit, said the party had been fighting against the land pooling policy from day one. 'The Punjab BJP had already announced a 'Zameen bachao, kisan bachao yatra' which was to begin from Patiala on 17 August and conclude in Pathankot on 5 September,' he said. Meanwhile, Sukhbir Singh Badal, president of Shiromani Akali Dal, said, 'The scrapping of the policy is a victory for Punjabis.' Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ekta Ugrahan) president Joginder Singh Ugrahan said it was a victory for farmers and all the people who are associated with agriculture. Ugrahan said the policy would have negatively impacted a large part of the state's population. 'Along with farmers, a large population in Punjab is associated with agriculture. Labourers, merchants and shopkeepers, almost 46% of the population of Punjab, are dependent on agriculture. Today, the youth may be educated, but they are not getting jobs. So, agriculture is the sole source of income for us,' he said. Ugrahan stated that the scheme had nothing to do with benefiting farmers and that the decision to implement it was taken in a haste. 'If they were to establish the colonies, they should have acquired the land which is non-fertile. The decision of withdrawal is good and the victory is the result of the unity of the farmers,' he said. Bhartiya Kisan Union (Ekta-Ughrahan) general secretary Sukhdev Singh Kokrikalan said the 'recall of the policy clearly shows that people of Punjab are aware of their rights and the government has to bow before their might.' Earlier in the day, farmers in Jalandhar, under the banner of Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) (non-political), took out a bike rally in parts of Doaba region against the land pooling scheme. Amritsar too saw a similar rally by farmers. Under the policy, the state government intended to acquire 65,533 acres in 21 cities and towns to set up residential areas.
Hindustan Times
20 hours ago
- General
- Hindustan Times
Ludhiana: Power supply crippled as PSPCL staff begin 3-day mass leave protest
Nearly 1,320 employees of Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) and Punjab State Transmission Corporation Limited (PSTCL) in Ludhiana district went on a three-day mass leave protest from Monday, crippling routine power supply operations and leaving the system under severe strain. PSPCL has deployed clerical staff and other non-technical employees, including women, to run 66 KV substations. (HT Photo) Several routine services including repairing faulty equipment, installing transformers and electricity cables, providing new meter connections, replacing burnt or damaged meters, and extending loads have come to a complete standstill, officials said. The workers, being led by multiple unions, are demanding release of 13% pending dearness allowance, restoration of the old pension scheme, rectification of pay and pension anomalies, regularisation of contract workers, and recruitment for nearly 50,000 vacant posts. To maintain supply, the department has reassigned employees from billing, enforcement, and divisional offices to the distribution wing. However, officials warned the timing is critical, as the paddy season and monsoon increase feeder tripping cases, technical glitches, and faults, while high demand puts additional pressure on sub-stations. 'With 60% to 65% of staff on strike, managing operations is extremely difficult. We have shifted all available workforce to electricity distribution, but repairs and restoration will be delayed, especially if rain worsens the situation, said Tarsem Lal, XEN, Model Town division. Peons, clerks posted at high-risk zones To keep the power flowing, PSPCL has resorted to the controversial step of deploying clerical staff, peons, chowkidars, and other non-technical employees including women to run 66 KV substations. The decision has triggered outrage among unions, who warn it puts lives at risk. 'Sub-stations are high-risk zones. In an emergency, how will untrained staff manage live wires, complex circuits, and high-voltage equipment? This is gambling with safety', said Rashpal Singh, deputy general secretary of PSPCL Employees' Federation (AITUC). Farmer union backs strike The Bhartiya Kisan Union (Ugrahan) has thrown its weight behind the protest, urging the government to accept the employees' demands. In a letter issued on Monday, the union said it 'fully supports the employees' legitimate rights' and called on the authorities to resolve the matter without delay. Public concern over the impact of the strike is also growing. In Ugrahan, villagers entered a substation to raise objections to the absence of technical staff. They claimed the department had stationed only a clerical employee there, leaving no one qualified to respond to outages or emergencies. 'How will a clerk manage high-voltage equipment in such situations?' a villager asked. PSPCL invokes ESMA The PSPCL has warned employees against joining the strike, citing the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) 1947, under which violators face up to three years in jail, fines, pay cuts, stalled promotions, service breaks, and even dismissal for disrupting power supply. When contacted,chief engineer Jagdev Hans said, 'We are managing the situation with the present workforce. Regarding the deployment of clerical and non-technical staff in substations, the department is already grappling with a staff shortage. With this strike, we have no choice but to use their services for routine operations. To ensure their safety, we have also deployed XENs and SDOs at each substation so that any mishaps can be avoided.'
Hindustan Times
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
BKU's Ugrahan faction to boycott all-party meeting on land pooling policy
Sangrur: The Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ekta-Ugrahan) has announced that it will boycott the all-party meeting scheduled for July 18 in Chandigarh, which was convened by several farmer organisations to discuss the Punjab government's recently introduced land-pooling policy. The Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ekta-Ugrahan) has announced that it will boycott the all-party meeting scheduled for July 18 in Chandigarh, which was convened by several farmer organisations to discuss the Punjab government's recently introduced land-pooling policy The policy, approved by the Punjab cabinet on June 2, aims to facilitate urban development by allowing landowners to voluntarily contribute their land to government or private development projects. In exchange, landowners are promised developed residential and commercial plots, with the possibility of participating in group housing projects. BKU (Ekta-Ugrahan) president Joginder Singh Ugrahan said the decision to stay away from the meeting aligns with the principles of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), under which the 'Delhi Chalo' farmers' agitation was conducted. 'Our struggle was based on SKM's core policy of not engaging with political parties or allowing their leaders on our stage. That independence gave our movement strength and credibility,' Ugrahan said. He accused political parties, including the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Congress, Shiromani Akali Dal and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), of being complicit in policies that aim to seize farmers' land under the guise of development. 'All these parties are in agreement when it comes to handing over farmers' land to corporate houses,' he alleged. Referring to past incidents of police action during land acquisition drives in Dhaula, Chhanna and Sanghera (under the Congress government), and in Gobindpura, Mansa (under the Akali-BJP regime), BKU (Ekta-Ugrahan) said these events reveal a consistent anti-farmer stance across political lines. The union called on farmers to uphold the SKM's independent policy and resist what it described as political interference in their struggle. 'If these parties genuinely care about farmers, they should oppose the Bhagwant Mann-led AAP government's anti-farmer land pooling policy from their own platforms, not by infiltrating farmer-led movements,' the union stated.
Hindustan Times
09-06-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Punjab: Farmers resist shift to early-maturing paddy amid procurement concerns
Farmers in Punjab are expressing reluctance to adopt early-maturing paddy varieties such as PR126, citing concerns over the government's procurement timeline that, they say, does not align with the crop's harvest period. Paddy sowing in districts such as Sangrur, Ludhiana, Malerkotla, Mansa, Moga, Barnala, Patiala, Kapurthala, Jalandhar and Nawanshahr commenced on Monday. Despite a state-imposed ban on long-duration paddy varieties, farmers have continued sowing the water-guzzling, long-duration PUSA 44 variety. The state government has advised farmers for a shift to short-duration varieties like PR126 and PR121. These varieties mature 15-20 days earlier than PUSA 44, offering benefits like reduced groundwater use and less stubble burning. However, farmers argue that the early harvest of these new varieties does not align with the government's procurement timeline, which typically begins in October. 'If we sow PR126, it will be ready by September, but there won't be any procurement in the mandis at that time,' said a farmer from Laddi village in Sangrur. 'Last year, our crops went unsold and got damaged. This will happen again,' he added. The government's policy aims to address the growing environmental crisis, including water scarcity and air pollution caused by late-harvest paddy. But farmers remain skeptical, citing last year's experience, where those who adopted PR126 faced procurement delays, leading to financial losses. Agricultural experts and farm bodies have urged the state and central governments to adjust procurement schedules or create dedicated channels for early-maturing varieties. 'Promoting a new crop variety without addressing market linkage issues will only deepen farmer distress,' said an agriculture economist. BKU (Ekta-Ugrahan) president Joginder Singh Ugrahan emphasized the growing distrust between farmers and the government. 'The government shouldn't dictate what we grow,' he said. 'Sheller owners prefer PUSA 44 due to its higher rice recovery rate, which is why they buy it readily. Without MSP guarantees for alternative varieties like basmati, there's no incentive to shift,' he added. Ugrahan also raised concerns about the government's push to replace paddy with maize. 'What if the new crop yields poorly? Will the government compensate us?' he asked. He called for a more farmer-centric approach, suggesting that the government offer an MSP for basmati rice, which could provide a viable alternative to both PUSA 44 and maize. Responding to these concerns, Sangrur chief agriculture officer Dharminderjit Singh assured that the government's procurement system would adjust to early-harvested crops. 'The crops will be procured when the mandis open. There is no issue with the government's procurement process,' he said. Singh admitted that the government does not currently have a compensation plan for farmers who face losses from sowing alternative varieties. He added that these newer paddy varieties incur lower costs due to their natural resistance to pests, reducing the need for expensive sprays.
Hindustan Times
09-06-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Punjab: Not MSP, low input cost is Ugrahan group's focus now
Bhartiya Kisan Union (Ekta-Ugrahan), a farm body based in Malwa belt of Punjab that has the largest support base in the state, has sidestepped from seeking a hike in the minimum support price (MSP) for all crops. Now, Joginder Singh Ugrahan-led BKU is seeking reduction in input cost, such as fall in prices of diesel, agro-chemical, pesticides, seeds and the other key inputs for agriculture. A former vice-chancellor of Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, who didn't wish to be named, said, 'The change is cause of concern because the farm bodies which have been at the forefront are backstepping.' The BKU (Ekta-Ugrahan) had led a year-long farm protest on Tikri (Haryana-Delhi) border in 2020 against the now-repealed three farm laws because of its sheer strength and the rest of the farm bodies were at Singhu borders. During another year-long protest by BKU (Ekta-Sidhupur) led by Jagjeet Singh Dallewal and Kisan Mazdoor Sangarsh Committee led by Sarwan Singh Pandher at Shambu and Khanauri border points, the BKU (Ugrahan) though offered support from outside but stayed away from active participation. At both the protests, increase in the MSP remained the key focus. Since AAP government took over in the state in March 2022 Ugrahan-led farm body has held a series of meetings with chief minister Bhagwant Mann for acceptance of farmers' demand. The central theme of the meeting was MSP on all crops and as a legal guarantee. According to Ugrahan, beyond a point, the increase in MSP can't be sought as it will lead to increase in prices of foodgrain, making it out of the reach of poor and marginal classes. According to the farm bodies other than the BKU (Ekta-Ugrahan), the fall in prices of inputs for agriculture is next to impossible as the central government has no direct control over petrol/diesel, agro chemicals and pesticides, as corporate control these inputs. BKU (Dakounda) Jagmohan Singh general secretary has said the demand of the farm bodies has always been MSP hike on all crops and any deviation means back stabbing the farmers. 'All factions should stick to the demand for hike in MSP as per MS Swaminathan's recommendation for 50% profit over the input cost,' said Jagmohan Singh. Meanwhile, Ugrahan justified his group's stand, stating, 'Not only farmers, we have to think about all the sections of society, particularly the poor. In case there is an increase in MSP, it will lead to inflation. So to benefit the farmers, the cost of agriculture inputs should be kept under check.' On being asked about the changed stance of the BKU (Ekta-Ugrahan), he said the scenario has changed. 'We have to adjust to the changing scenario, but we will continue to fight for the farmers' welfare,' he added. The BKU (Ekta-Ugrahan) has been maintaining a low profile for about two years and is only engaged in symbolic protests. 'We will soon come out with a plan for a long drawn protest for the rights of the farmers,' the group stated.
