Chandigarh: Tensions continue to rise across Punjab over the state government’s new land pooling policy, as farmer unions intensify their protests and political voices begin to join the opposition.
In a significant political development, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Harmanjeet Singh Barar Didarewala has resigned from his post in protest against the controversial policy.
Barar, the former district president of AAP in Moga and Chairman of the District Planning Board, publicly announced his resignation via a social media post. Emphasizing his identity as a farmer, he stated, “I oppose the land pooling policy. As a farmer myself, I stand with the farming community and urge the government to reconsider its decision.”
His resignation adds fuel to an already growing outcry from agricultural groups who claim the policy poses a direct threat to their land rights and livelihoods. According to farmer unions, the policy could result in the displacement of cultivators from fertile lands and is being seen as a move to benefit real estate development at the expense of agriculture.
The land pooling policy introduced by the Punjab government aims to acquire farmland for urban development by pooling plots and offering developed sites to the original owners in return. While the government defends it as a progressive step toward planned development, critics argue that the policy undermines the interests of small and marginal farmers.
Protests have erupted in several districts, with sit-ins and demonstrations continuing for days. Farmers have demanded an immediate rollback of the policy, warning of state-wide agitation if their concerns are ignored.
Barar’s resignation is being seen as the first major political fallout within the ruling party over the issue, potentially signaling deeper unrest within its ranks. Political analysts suggest that growing internal dissent may pressure the Punjab government to revisit or amend the policy in the coming days.
As the standoff escalates, all eyes are now on how the state administration responds to the dual challenge of farmer resistance and rising political backlash.
