Farmers demand resolution in Punjab Vidhan Sabha, warn against land acquisition

Chandigarh: Sarwan Singh Pandher, state leader of the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee, has urged the Punjab Vidhan Sabha to pass a resolution addressing 12 demands of the farmers and forward it to the Central government.

He also announced that the jatha of 101 farmer activists, originally set to march from the Shambhu border to Delhi on February 25, has been postponed to March 25, when they will proceed on foot.

Addressing a press conference, Pandher cautioned against the forcible acquisition of farmers’ lands under the Bharat Mala project, warning that if such actions continue, farmers may shift their protests from the Centre to the Punjab government.

He stated that two rounds of talks have been held with the Central government on farmers’ issues, with a third meeting scheduled in Chandigarh on March 25. Pandher urged the Bhagwant Mann-led government to extend the current Assembly session to discuss public concerns.

He called for a resolution to be passed in support of the farmers’ demands and against the draft agricultural market policy.

Additionally, he pressed for stringent laws against travel agents involved in illegal migration, particularly in cases of youth deported from the US, and demanded that this issue be taken up in the Assembly.

He reiterated his objection to land acquisition without fair compensation, stating that government representatives in Gurdaspur attempted to take over farmers’ lands, which was met with resistance.

Pandher warned the Punjab government to refrain from forcibly occupying farmland, cautioning that farmers would be compelled to intensify their protests if their concerns were not addressed.