BJP Hails Punjab Land Policy Withdrawal as Victory

Chandigarh — The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has welcomed the Punjab government’s decision to withdraw the controversial Land Pooling Policy 2025, calling it a “hard-earned victory” for the state’s farmers and labourers. The statement came a day after the Aam Aadmi Party-led Cabinet scrapped the policy in the face of sustained protests.

BJP leaders said the rollback was the result of a united front by those most affected — small farmers, agricultural labourers, and rural communities — who stood firm against a scheme they feared would jeopardize their livelihoods. Party spokespersons stressed that this episode once again demonstrated the strength of grassroots movements in defending the interests of Punjab’s agrarian society.

The Land Pooling Policy 2025 had been pitched by the state government as a more equitable alternative to direct land acquisition. It aimed to collect parcels of agricultural land from multiple owners for infrastructure and development projects, with contributors receiving developed plots or other forms of compensation in return. The government maintained that this approach would be voluntary and fair.

However, BJP and several farmer organizations opposed the policy from the outset, warning that the “voluntary” nature of land pooling could be misleading. Critics said that economic and political pressure could still coerce smallholders into giving up their land. Agricultural labourers, often dependent on these farms for work, feared the loss of jobs if large tracts were converted for urban development.

For weeks, farmer unions held rallies and sit-ins in key districts, from Mohali to Bathinda. The protests gathered momentum, with labour unions joining the demonstrations and framing the struggle as one that went beyond land ownership to protect rural livelihoods and heritage.

Reacting to the withdrawal, Punjab BJP president Sunil Jakhar praised the protesters for their persistence. “This is a victory of the people — farmers and labourers — who refused to let their voice be drowned out. It is also a reminder to the government that policies affecting rural Punjab cannot be made without deep consultation,” he said.

BJP leaders have used the rollback to press for a broader review of the state’s approach to land use. They argue that any new policy must involve transparent dialogue with farmers, labourers, and local bodies, while also ensuring that development goals do not undermine Punjab’s agricultural backbone.

Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has defended his government’s initial intentions, saying the aim was to promote development without forced acquisition. He assured that future proposals would be shaped to better reflect the concerns of rural stakeholders.

For the BJP, the episode has provided an opportunity to strengthen its political presence in Punjab’s countryside, traditionally a challenging ground for the party. With land rights and agricultural issues likely to remain central in the state’s political discourse, the party is positioning itself as a defender of farmer and labourer interests.