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Time of India
2 days ago
- 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
18-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Punjab parties unite against land pooling scheme, demand FTA exclusion
Bathinda: Punjab's political parties, excluding the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), demanded the immediate withdrawal of the state's controversial land pooling scheme. The call came during an event organised by the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), where parties also pressed for the exclusion of agriculture and allied sectors from free trade agreements (FTAs) with the US and other nations. During the meeting held on Friday, leaders from across the political spectrum sought to strengthen the cooperative sector, annul all existing water accords and review Sections 78, 79, and 80 of the Punjab Reorganisation Act. A consensus was reached to urge the Punjab assembly to pass a resolution and sent to the Centre, advocating for parliamentary amendments to these sections. The SKM had convened the all-party meeting, challenging political factions to clarify their positions on contentious issues facing Punjab. Representatives from Congress, BJP, Shiromani Akali Dal, BSP, SAD (five-member recruitment committee), CPI, CPI (M), CPI(ML) Liberation, CPI(ML) New Democracy, and RMPI participated, with only AAP absent. The land pooling scheme has faced widespread condemnation. In a voice vote, party leaders slammed the state govt, labelling the scheme a "ploy to seize fertile lands from farmers and hand them over to corporates". by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo They vowed to resist its implementation, citing over 90% opposition from landowning farmers. Some parties even implicated AAP's "Delhi-based top leadership," alleging collusion with corporations targeting valuable land. Beyond land pooling, political leaders supported the SKM's agenda to annul water-sharing agreements, urging the state govt to pass a resolution to the Centre. They also backed the SKM's demand to scrap the Dam Safety Act in its current form, arguing it undermines the federal structure by transferring state rights over dams to the Centre. Unanimous support was also voiced for bolstering the cooperative movement to combat the sale of spurious seeds, fertilisers, pesticides, and insecticides. SKM leaders Balbir Singh Rajewal, Harinder Singh Lakhowal, Darshanpal, Buta Singh Burjgill, and Raminder Patiala presided over the proceedings. Prominent attendees included Avtar Singh Karimpuri (BSP), Randeep Singh Nabha (Congress), Kewal Singh Dhillon (former MLA), Subash Sharma (BJP), Sukhdeep Singh and Dinesh Kumar (SAD), Iqbal Singh Jhunda and Gurpartap Singh Wadala (SAD five-member committee), Sukhwinder Sekhon (CPI(M)), Bant Singh Brar (CPI), Sukhdarshan Natt and Gurmeet Singh Bakhtupura (CPI(ML) Liberation), Darshan Singh Khatkar (CPI(ML) New Democracy), and Pargat Singh Jamrai (RMPI), all presenting their party's views. SKM leaders later clarified their objective is to understand political parties' stances. The SKM stated it would continue to champion these issues, with parties expected to offer external support. MSID:: 122763944 413 |
Time of India
18-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Farm anger shifts, BJP no longer enemy No. 1?
Bathinda: The long-simmering anger of Punjab's farmer movement, previously directed at the BJP, appears to have redirected its focus towards the AAP govt, a pivot evident at an all-party meeting convened by the Punjab chapter of the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM). The saffron party was accorded equal footing with other political outfits. When questioned about the evolving relationship with the BJP, senior SKM leader Balbir Singh Rajewal offered an evasive response, stating, "It is also like others (aeh bhi doojia partian vargi hi hai)," hinting at a pragmatic shift. Sources suggest the BJP, drawing lessons from its past confrontations with the farming community, has adopted a conciliatory approach, publicly aligning itself with the SKM on several critical issues. During the meeting, BJP leaders Kewal Singh Dhillon and Subash Sharma declared their "rock-solid" support for farmers in opposing the state govt's proposed land pooling scheme. Dhillon asserted that it was devised by AAP's Delhi leadership with the intent to "loot farmers". Sharma elaborated on the BJP's existing opposition, citing meetings with the governor and various protests, and pledged support for any future farmer agitations. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like This Trend Is Changing Bridal Beauty vividtrendlab Undo The BJP also voiced strong opposition to Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) in the agriculture and dairy sectors. Sharma affirmed that no agreement detrimental to farmer interests would be signed and promised to raise the issue with Union commerce minister Piyush Goyal. Additionally, Punjab BJP leaders reiterated their firm stance against sharing the state's water with other regions, citing Punjab's lack of surplus water and emphasising the need for unity on the matter. This newfound camaraderie stands in stark contrast to the period following Sept 2020, when the BJP-led central govt introduced contentious farm laws. The SKM had then initiated a complete boycott of the BJP in Punjab, preventing leaders from holding public programmes for over a year and staging continuous protests at their residences. Even during previous farmer agitations, particularly for the legal right to minimum support price (MSP), the BJP remained the primary target of farmer ire. However, the handling of the recent protests at Shambhu and Khanauri borders by the AAP govt has seemingly shifted the focus of farmers. MSID:: 122764021 413 |
