In mahapanchayat, farmers continue opposition to land pooling, warn of intense agitation if privatisation brought via back door
‘Save Land, Save Village, Save Punjab’
2 min read
KMM leaders alleged that the government was attempting to grab farmers’ land under the garb of “development” while deliberately avoiding implementation of the 2013 Land Acquisition Act. (Representational Image/File photo)Braving heavy rains, hundreds of farmers and labourers gathered at Kukkar village in Jalandhar on Wednesday for a “Save Land, Save Village, Save Punjab” Kisan Mahapanchayat organised by the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM). The meeting turned into a show of strength against Punjab government’s farmer policies, particularly the land pooling scheme, installation of prepaid/smart meters, and non-payment of dues to sugarcane growers.
KMM leaders alleged that the government was attempting to grab farmers’ land under the garb of “development” while deliberately avoiding implementation of the 2013 Land Acquisition Act. They also opposed the privatisation of the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL), terming prepaid and smart meters as a step in that direction.
“We will not allow Punjab’s land and villages to be snatched in the name of development. If the government continues to impose privatisation through the backdoor, we will intensify the agitation on a much larger scale,” Sarwan Singh Pandher of the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee, warned while addressing the crowd.
The mahapanchayat unanimously passed four key resolutions with the key ones being farmers not selling agricultural land under any circumstances, flood-hit farmers compensated at Rs 70,000 per acre, while labourers at Rs 7,000 each — 10 per cent of the farmers’ package. Compensation for damaged houses, livestock, and other property should also be ensured. The state must immediately stop installing prepaid/smart meters, withdraw any move towards PSPCL privatisation, sugarcane farmers’ pending dues from last year should be released without delay, and cane price raised to Rs 500 per quintal, the resolutions said.
Leaders warned of “larger announcements and mobilisations” in the coming days if the state continued to push privatisation and anti-farmer measures.
The event witnessed participation of leaders from multiple farmers’ unions, including Sukhjeet Singh Hardojhanda (Punjab Kisan Mazdoor Union), Inderjeet Singh Kotbudha (Kisan Sangharsh Committee), Balwant Singh Bahiram (BKU Bahiramke), Manjeet Singh Rai (BKU Doaba), Jaswinder Singh Longowal (BKU Ekta Azad), Baldev Singh Zira (BKU Krantikari), Malkeet Singh (Kisan Mazdoor Morcha Punjab), and several others.
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