Farmers in Punjab take out tractor rallies against land pooling policy

Farmers on Wednesday, 30 July, took out tractor rallies at several places in Punjab against the government's land pooling policy.

The call for the rallies was given by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha(SKM) and the protesters demanded withdrawal of the land pooling policy, alleging that it was "anti-farmers".

"The state government is trying to grab the farmers' fertile land alleging through this policy. It is absolutely anti-farmers," said SKM leader Balbir Singh Rajewal.

Protest rallies were taken out in Samrala, Jodhan, Koom Kalan, Jagraon and Dakha in Ludhiana district.

The Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) extended its support to the SKM's call and held protests in Amritsar, Jalandhar, Mansa, Bathinda, and Sangrur, among other places.

KMM leader Sarwan Singh Pandher said, "The state government should withdraw the land pooling policy immediately before the mounting anger of farmers forces it to do so."

A farmer at one of the protest sites said, "Through the tractor march, we are giving a clear message that we will not give away our land."

Villagers claimed that the majority of farmers, including marginal landholders, are unwilling to give up their land.

The AAP government has been facing flak from the opposition parties and various farmer bodies, which dubbed its land pooling policy as "looting" to rob the farmers of their fertile land.

The state government plans to acquire around 65,000 acres in 164 villages at many places for developing residential and industrial zones.

The Punjab Cabinet last month gave its nod to the policy and asserted that not a single yard will be forcibly acquired from land owners.

Under the policy, an owner will be given a 1,000 square yard residential plot and a 200 square yard 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 it was designed to foster transparent and planned urban development across the state.

Farmers in Punjab on protest march to surround Shambhu police station