The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government’s ambitious land pooling policy in Punjab has ignited a storm of protest among farmers, who claim the scheme threatens their livelihoods and undermines land ownership rights. The backlash, particularly intense in the rural belts of Mohali, Ludhiana, and Patiala, has brought hundreds of farmers onto the streets in recent weeks.
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Introduced as a means to promote planned urban development and infrastructure growth, the land pooling policy proposes that farmers voluntarily contribute their agricultural land to a collective pool for urban expansion. In return, they are promised developed plots, compensation, and a share in future real estate benefits.
However, farmer unions and rural communities argue that the policy is a veiled attempt at land acquisition without adequate safeguards. “They’re taking our fertile land in the name of development and offering us plots that may not even suit our agricultural practices or sustain our future,” said Harbhajan Singh, a protesting farmer from Sangrur.
Critics say the policy lacks clarity on crucial aspects such as land valuation, compensation timelines, and guaranteed rights post-development. They also fear that small landholders could be disproportionately affected and left at the mercy of urban real estate dynamics.
The Bharti Kisan Union (Ekta Ugrahan), one of the largest farmer bodies in Punjab, has strongly opposed the move, terming it “anti-farmer and pro-builder.” Rallies and dharnas have erupted across several villages, demanding the immediate rollback of the policy and greater transparency in land-use planning.
In response to mounting opposition, the Punjab government has called the protests “politically motivated” and reassured that the policy is voluntary. “The policy is designed to bring prosperity to rural areas by integrating them with urban development. No land will be taken forcefully,” said Housing and Urban Development Minister Aman Arora.
Yet, tensions remain high. Farmer leaders have warned of escalating protests, including a proposed statewide bandh if their demands are not met. As the state prepares for crucial panchayat elections later this year, the land pooling controversy could emerge as a decisive political flashpoint in rural Punjab.
With the legacy of the farmers’ movement against the now-repealed farm laws still fresh, the AAP government finds itself navigating a delicate balance between development and agrarian discontent.