Punjab Farmers Unite Against Land Pooling Policy in Massive Tractor Rally

Thousands of farmers in Punjab held a rare moment of unity on Wednesday as they took to the roads in a massive tractor rally against the state government's contentious land pooling policy. The protest, led by the state unit of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) and supported by several other farmer unions, marked a unified stance against the policy, which aims to pool over 65,000 acres of land. The rally, which spanned across nearly 164 villages, was most intense in Ludhiana, Amritsar, Ferozepur, Moga, Patiala, Mohali, and Jalandhar, where farmers expressed fears that their livelihood and identity were under threat.

Key Takeaways:

• The Punjab Government's land pooling policy aims to build townships by acquiring land from farmers through pooling, rather than outright purchase. Farmers contributing land will receive a portion back as developed plots, with the rest sold to finance civic infrastructure.
• The policy has drawn sharp criticism from the farming community, who see it as a threat to their livelihood and identity. Over 65,000 acres of land is to be pooled under the policy, with 24,000 acres set to be covered in Ludhiana district alone.
• The protest, led by the state unit of SKM and supported by other farmer unions, saw thousands of farmers take to the roads in a rare moment of unity. The rally spanned across nearly 164 villages, with the most intense protests seen in Ludhiana, Amritsar, Ferozepur, Moga, Patiala, Mohali, and Jalandhar.
• Farmers expressed fears that their livelihood and identity were under threat, with many highlighting the poor condition of link roads and the long-term implications of the policy. "Punjab cannot afford horizontal growth at the cost of its villages. How can you erase rural existence in the name of rapid urbanisation?" asked Jagdev Singh, a farmer in his seventies from Jodhan.
• The ruling Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) Jodhan block president, Tapinder Singh Jodhan, quit the party on Monday to protest the policy. Several other sarpanches have also given feedback to the party seeking a rollback of the policy.
• The protests will continue, with mahapanchyats scheduled for August 7, August 20, and August 24, and a seminar on August 8 in Ludhiana. The KMM is also planning a motorcycle march across various districts on August 11.

Statistics:

• 65,000 acres of land to be pooled under the policy.
• 24,000 acres to be covered in Ludhiana district alone.
• 164 villages spanned across by the tractor rally.
• Thousands of farmers participated in the protest, with the most intense protests seen in Ludhiana, Amritsar, Ferozepur, Moga, Patiala, Mohali, and Jalandhar.

Sources:

• IE Online Media Services Pvt. Ltd.
• Contify.com