Ludhiana News/Farmers lodge protest with GLADA against acquisition notices

Ludhiana, November 25, 2013: Hundreds of farmers from nine villages of Ludhiana district today lodged a strong protest against the Punjab governments notices seeking to acquire their land under Land Acquisition Act of 1894 which already stands repealed after the enactment of new Land Acquisition Act which has come into effect retrospectively from 2011, when it was introduced in the parliament for the first time.

Meanwhile, Union Information and Broadcasting Minister and local MP Manish Tewari spoke to the Additional Administrator Greater Ludhiana Development Authority (GLADA) telling him that the state government cannot issue notices for acquisition under the old act, which already stands repealed after the enactment of the new act.

Tewari made it categorically clear to the GLADA official that he will not allow the farmers’ land to be acquired forcibly and under no circumstances under the archaic 1894 Act. He said, if at all the state government has to acquire the land it must be with due consent of the farmers and under the new act, which is farmer friendly.

The farmers from nine villagers including Jaspal Bangar, Lohara, Garib Nagri, Brahman Majra, Sangowal, Natt, Pawa, Dharaur and Harnampura today gathered at the GLADA office to lodge their protest. They said that they were not interested in giving up their land and under no circumstances under the old and archaic act of 1894, which had been enacted by the British to snatch the land of people.

One of the farmers Ujjagar Singh said, besides mass protests they will also take legal recourse since the act under which the Punjab government was trying to acquire the land had already been repealed and new act brought in.

Ludhiana District Congress Committee, rural and urban presidents Milkiat Singh Dakha and Pawan Dewan also addressed the protesting farmers and assured them that they will not allow the government to snatch their land.

The Congress leaders said, this only proved that the state government which otherwise claims to be the protector of the farmers’ rights, was not interested in providing benefit to them. Otherwise there was no logic in issuing the notices under the 120 year old law when a new law had already been enacted by the Congress led UPA government at the centre, which took care of farmers’ interests.

Among others sarpanch Amrik Singh, Harvinder Singh Ghola, Nahar Singh, Ranjeet Singh, Dogar Singh, Labh Singh, Hardeep Singh, Jarnail Singh, Jagtar Singh were also present on the occasion.