Punjab Jatt Mahasabha to protests on March 18 against Land Acquisition Bill

Chandigarh, March 5, 2015: Punjab Jatt Mahasabha will organise district level protests on March 18 at all the district headquarters in Punjab against the proposed amendment in the Land Acquisition Bill, dismantling of FCI and to demand compensation for the damage to the crop due to weather conditions. 

This was stated today by Kushaldeep Singh Dhillon, President, Punjab Jatt Mahasabha, after chairing the state level meeting of the executive body of the Punjab Jatt Mahasabha. 

dhillon said that if the deaf dumb government in Punjab did not listen to the genuine demands of the farmer community they will have to do state level protest also in Punjab by jamming the state highways. He demanded that the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal Badal and BJP government should immediately clear their stand to the people of Punjab or break their alliance. He said that its very strange that on one hand the SAD is also opposing the proposed amendments in the land acquisition bill by the Modi government and simultaneously they are part and parcel of the Modi Government, Harsimrat Kaur Badal is Union Minister, what a joke these leaders are playing with the electorate of Punjab. He requested Parkash Singh Badal Chief Minister of Punjab to join their protests on March 18 against the Land Acquisition Bill if they are really serious in what they have said.

Opposing the proposed amendment, Dhillon was highly critical of the Modi government for making certain changes in the Land Acquisition Act through an ordinance. He said that On December 29 last year, the government had recommended promulgation of an ordinance making significant changes in the Land Acquisition Act including removal of consent clause for acquiring land for five areas of industrial corridors, PPP projects, rural infrastructure, affordable housing and defence. They actually want to give away hundreds of acres of land to these big corporates and that too without the consent of the land owners farmers. This anti farmer bill will not be allowed to pass in the interest of farmer of the country.

Dhillon further said that the Modi Government plans to gradually finish off the Public Procurement Mechanism in a move which will adversely affect livelihoods of millions of farmers, seriously compromise the food security of the Nation as well as mean further increase in food grain prices for the masses. The Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution has issued a letter to States regarding change in policy of procurement for the Central Pool. This will dismantle even the present weak Public Procurement as well as the Price Support System to India’s Farmers. Punjab Jatt Mahasabha condemns this blatant move to allow profiteering by the corporate sector at the expense of Farmers as well as the hungry millions in India. We will not let this happen in the interest of farmer community

Dhillon also demanded that special Girdawari should be done on the damage of the crop due to recent rains and adequate compensation should be announced immediately to the farmer. There was big damage to the crops due to recent rains for which the farmer will have to suffer huge loss.

All the office bearers, district presidents, executive body members were present in this meeting and wholly supported the all the three causes taken by the President.