Photo Source: Babushahi Bureau
Sukhbir Badal warns officials over Land Pooling, vows to scrap policy if SAD returns to power
Babushahi Bureau
Ludhiana (Punjab), July 22, 2025 — Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal has issued a stern warning to Punjab’s Chief Secretary and officers involved in the land pooling scheme, stating they may face action under a future SAD government.
He appealed to village panchayats to pass resolutions rejecting the Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) plan to acquire 40,000 acres of fertile land across Punjab. Speaking at a massive dharna outside the DC office in Ludhiana, where thousands gathered despite heavy rain, Badal accused AAP Convener Arvind Kejriwal of orchestrating a “land loot” in collaboration with Delhi-based builders.
He pledged to block the AAP government's plan completely, stating, “We will not let them take even an inch of Punjab’s land.”
Badal criticized the government’s move to use the Punjab Land Acquisition Act, 1995, instead of the more transparent Central Land Acquisition Act, 2013, which mandates higher compensation and proper rehabilitation.
He called the AAP’s approach unconstitutional and a breeding ground for corruption, as it allows selective exemption of plots and arbitrary allotment.
He also highlighted that small farmers would be worst hit, noting that landowners with nine acres would retain only 33%, while those with 50 acres would retain 60%. Once notified, landowners wouldn’t be allowed to sell, mortgage, or change land use, making them financially vulnerable.
The SAD plans to intensify its protest through a series of weekly dharnas, with Mohali on July 28 and Bathinda on August 4 as the next locations.
Badal also linked AAP to past incidents of sacrilege in Punjab, claiming that sacrilege cases rose after AAP entered into the state in 2014 and accused the party of shielding culprits.He reiterated SAD’s commitment to pursuing justice in these cases if voted back to power.
Senior SAD leaders, including Dr. Daljit Singh Cheema, Maheshinder Singh Grewal, and NK Sharma joined Badal in criticizing the policy and the government’s handling of land acquisition and religious sensitivities.