Did Punjab's Farmers Achieve a Historic Victory Against the Land Policy?

Chandigarh, Aug 12 (NationPress) BJP's National General Secretary Tarun Chugh expressed his congratulations to the people and farmers of Punjab for their monumental success in compelling the Mann government to retract its land pooling policy.

Chugh stated, “This victory is a powerful demonstration of the unity, bravery, and unyielding spirit of the farmers in Punjab. The AAP government had to yield to the overwhelming public outcry from 3 crore Punjabis. This sends a clear signal -- Punjab’s farmers are not anyone’s personal property.”

He criticized the policy, claiming it was “initially designed to benefit the builder lobby and fill Arvind Kejriwal’s election funds. It represented a calculated scheme to seize land from small and marginal farmers at minimal costs, rendering them homeless.”

“Mann and Kejriwal viewed Punjab as their private cash cow for their extravagant lifestyles, but the people of Punjab have shown they will go to any lengths to safeguard their land and dignity,” he remarked.

Following widespread protests from farmers, laborers, and political parties, along with a stern warning from the Punjab and Haryana High Court, the Aam Aadmi Party government reversed its land pooling policy on Monday. Finance Minister Harpal Cheema asserted, “The satisfaction and happiness of our farmers take precedence over any policy.”

In response to the government's decision, BJP leader Chugh affirmed that the BJP has consistently supported farmers, opposing this anti-farmer, land-grabbing policy across every district and forum.

“The BJP even presented a memorandum to the Governor, standing alongside the farmers until the policy was retracted. Whenever farmers face aggression, the BJP will stand firmly to defend their rights,” he declared.

Chugh condemned the government for using police violence against farmers who protested the policy. He called for Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to apologize to the people of Punjab and resign immediately.

Joining the discourse, Ashwani Sharma, the working state BJP President, expressed skepticism regarding the government's decision, stating, “I am convinced that the Aam Aadmi Party administration will find alternative ways to acquire Punjab's farmers' land, as they have only retracted the land pooling policy announced on May 14, not their intent to seize land.”

Sharma suggested that the government did not withdraw the policy for the benefit of farmers, but rather out of fear of the High Court's stay order.

“The points we raised have been confirmed by the High Court, which imposed a stay on the land pooling policy,” he stated.

“The manner in which a government officer's order rescinded the land pooling policy—initially announced by the Chief Minister and his ministers after a cabinet meeting—indicates that the government may attempt to reclaim farmers’ land in the future. If this is not the case, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann should publicly affirm that the government will not re-acquire the thousands of acres of land they aimed to seize through land pooling,” he added.

Nonetheless, Minister Cheema emphasized the government’s commitment to farmers, stating that Chief Minister Mann, hailing from a farming background, has worked diligently for the past three years to ensure that water reaches every field. Previously, agricultural electricity was supplied for eight hours at both day and night; however, the government has shifted the supply to daytime only, alleviating farmers from the burden of nighttime work,” Cheema explained, reflecting the government’s sensitivity towards farmers and farm laborers.