Punjab land pooling policy a 'conspiracy' to grab farmland, BJP charges
Synopsis
BJP State President Kewal Singh Dhillon walked into farmers' fields in Mohali's Patton village on 15 July, calling Punjab's land pooling policy a 'conspiracy' to grab agricultural land. With broken compensation promises, stalled development on previously acquired land, and a reintroduced policy that was once withdrawn, the political battle over Punjab's farmland is sharpening fast.
Key Takeaways
BJP called Punjab's land pooling policy a 'conspiracy to grab farmland' on 15 July .
State BJP President Kewal Singh Dhillon visited affected farmers in Patton village, Mohali district .
Farmers alleged the AAP government is pursuing forcible land acquisition despite their refusal to give up their sole livelihood.
Earlier promises of electricity motor connections from prior acquisitions by GMADA and PUDA reportedly remain unfulfilled.
Dhillon alleged the reintroduced policy — previously withdrawn — signals a planned 'multi-crore scam.' BJP vowed to oppose every move to acquire 'even an inch' of Punjab farmers' land under what it called this 'black policy.'
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday, 15 July escalated its offensive against the Punjab government's land pooling policy, calling it 'not a development initiative but a major conspiracy to grab the land of farmers.' The party's campaign took a ground-level turn as State BJP President Kewal Singh Dhillon walked into the fields of affected farmers in Patton village, Mohali district, to hear their concerns firsthand.
Farmers Voice Grievances in Mohali
Farmers in Patton village told Dhillon that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government was determined to forcibly acquire their agricultural land — their sole source of livelihood — despite their firm refusal to part with it. They pointed out that land previously acquired by the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) and the Punjab Urban Planning and Development Authority (PUDA) remains incompletely developed, with pending compensation and long-standing grievances still unresolved.
The farmers also flagged broken promises from earlier acquisitions: electricity motor connections had been assured when their land was first taken, but those commitments remain unfulfilled, with application files reportedly gathering dust in government offices. They expressed that they have lost all faith in the AAP administration's intentions.
Dhillon's Attack on CM Bhagwant Mann
Dhillon launched a pointed attack on Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and the broader AAP leadership. He claimed that following what he described as a 'humiliating defeat' in Delhi, the party had shifted its focus to the 'highly valuable agricultural land of Mohali and Punjab.' He alleged that the state government intended to engineer a 'multi-crore scam' through this policy.
Dhillon further alleged that the policy's reintroduction — after having been previously withdrawn — was evidence of the government's 'dishonest intentions.' He accused officials of attempting to win over farmers with fresh promises and incentives while pursuing the same underlying agenda.
BJP's Stand and Warning
Asserting that the BJP 'stands firmly with the farmers,' Dhillon issued a strong warning that the party would not allow 'even an inch of Punjab farmers' land' to be acquired under what he called this 'black policy.' He pledged to oppose every act of what he described as injustice by the state government.
This comes amid broader political tensions in Punjab, where the AAP government and opposition parties have been locked in repeated confrontations over agrarian and urban development policies. Notably, the reintroduction of a land pooling framework — after an earlier withdrawal — has reignited farmer anxiety in districts like Mohali, where agricultural land borders rapidly expanding urban zones.
What Happens Next
The BJP's campaign signals that land pooling is set to become a central political flashpoint ahead of future electoral cycles in Punjab. With farmers in Mohali publicly aligned with the opposition and the AAP government yet to respond formally to these specific allegations, the standoff is likely to intensify in the coming weeks.
Point of View
Unfulfilled infrastructure promises, and the reintroduction of a policy it had previously retreated from. Each of these grievances is real and verifiable, which gives the BJP's 'conspiracy' framing more traction than it might otherwise deserve. The deeper question mainstream coverage misses is whether the land pooling policy has a legitimate urban development rationale that is being lost in the political noise — and whether Punjab's farmers are being served or simply mobilised.
NationPress
15 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Punjab's land pooling policy and why is it controversial?
Punjab's land pooling policy allows the state government to pool agricultural land for urban development projects, with farmers theoretically receiving developed plots or compensation in return. It is controversial because farmers in areas like Mohali allege that past acquisitions by GMADA and PUDA left compensation pending and development incomplete, eroding trust in any new iteration of the scheme.
Why did BJP State President Kewal Singh Dhillon visit Patton village in Mohali?
Dhillon visited Patton village on 15 July as part of the BJP's campaign against the Punjab government's land pooling policy, meeting affected farmers to hear their grievances directly. He used the visit to accuse the AAP government of planning a 'multi-crore scam' and pledged BJP support against what he called forcible land acquisition.
What specific complaints do farmers in Mohali have against the AAP government?
Farmers in Patton village allege that their land is being targeted for forcible acquisition despite it being their only livelihood, and that earlier promises — including electricity motor connections made during previous acquisitions — have not been fulfilled. They also point to incompletely developed land and unresolved compensation from earlier GMADA and PUDA acquisitions.
Has Punjab's land pooling policy been introduced before?
Yes. According to BJP leaders, the policy was previously introduced and subsequently withdrawn by the state government. They argue that its reintroduction reveals what they describe as the government's 'dishonest intentions,' though the AAP government has not formally responded to these specific allegations.
What is the BJP's stated position on the land pooling policy?
The BJP has called the policy a 'black policy' and a 'conspiracy to grab farmers' land,' vowing to oppose any acquisition under it. State President Dhillon declared the party will not allow 'even an inch' of Punjab farmers' land to be taken and will firmly resist what it describes as every act of injustice by the state government.
