Farmers take out tractor march to protest govt’s land pooling policy

In a show of strength and solidarity, farmer unions under the banner of Sanyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) took out tractor marches in various towns of the district on Wednesday to protest against the Punjab government’s land pooling policy. The marches in Ajnala, Mannawala and Tarn Taran witnessed massive participation from the agrarian community, with farmers demanding immediate withdrawal of the policy.

Sarwan Singh Pandher, general secretary of Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee, warned the government that farmers would launch a massive agitation if the policy is not withdrawn. “We appeal to the government to withdraw the policy before a massive agitation starts,” he said. Pandher added that farmers know that the proposed acquisition announcement by the government is just a beginning and more farmers would be affected in future.

In the district, farmers from villages around Guru Ka Bagh marched towards Gurdwara Morcha Sahib on Amritsar-Ajnala Road, where they were joined by cavalcade from villages around Rajasansi.

The convoy of tractors, cars and motorcycles was taken out from Gurdwara Morcha Sahib on Amritsar-Ajnala road, covering a distance of 10 km to Amritsar bypass. The convoy was led by farmer leaders, including Dr Satnam Singh Ajnala of Jamhoori Kisan Sabha, who criticised the government’s land acquisition policy. “The government, instead of addressing the issues being faced by the agrarian community, has now brought a land acquisition policy which is against the interests of the farmers,” he said.

The farmer leaders stated that the march was a show of strength and solidarity by the protesters who are determined to fight against the government’s policy. The SKM has called for the repeal of the policy and the protesters hope that their demands will be met.

The SKM has also announced to hold a maha panchayat in Ludhiana on August 24 to announce the future course of the agitation. The farmer leaders alleged that the police was removing the hoardings put up by farmer unions to oppose the land pooling policy.

With hundreds of tractors, the march started from the local Gurdwara Shaheedi Fatak, Sarhali road. A large number of farmers also expressed their resentment in front of the District Administrative Complex (DAC) in Tarn Taran.

The march went to Jodhopur, Aladinpur and Chutala villages, where farmers participating in the march were accorded a warm welcome. The farmers assured that they were participating for the common cause. About one hundred acres of land situated near the National Highway-54 is on the agenda for pooling purposes.

Nachhattar Singh, Daljit Singh Dialpura, Tarsem Singh Lohar, Pooran Singh, Pargat Singh Mehandipur and Balkar Singh Valtoha were among those who addressed the gathering and said the policy was meant to deprive farmers of their land. The leaders cited the example of Goindwal Sahib industrial complex where about 900 acres of land was acquired about 50 years back and just less than 500 acres have been utilised till date.

Amritsar