A Conspiracy to Displace Peasants for the Unproductive Businesses of Corporate Robbers

A Conspiracy to Displace Peasants for the

 Unproductive Businesses of Corporate Robbers

(Although the Punjab government had to withdraw the land pooling policy due to pressure of the farmers' struggle, this article, written at the time of the policy's introduction, is still relevant. Because the government has withdrawn this one project under pressure, while the policies of acquiring land for corporate houses remain unchanged and more and more projects continue to emerge from this policy.)

A struggle has begun to take shape in the state against the government’s land pooling policy, which aims to hand over farmer’s lands to predatory corporate houses. Farmers, who own fertile land to be acquired under this policy, have started to raise their voices against this policy, and have refused to hand over their lands. The peasant organisations of the state have also taken the field of struggle against the forcible grabbing of farmer’s fertile lands. The organisations, incorporating the United Kisan Morcha, have announced protest actions. Farmers and other rural organisations have also started protests and other activities at local levels. In their attempt to utilize the protest movement for their narrow political interests, the ruling class parties of the state could also be seen active. Going beyond their usual activity of using statements, they are trying to engage in mobilisation exercises for protest actions. This issue has become a hot topic of discussion in the state’s politics and concerns regarding the government’s attack on farmers’ land has gained widespread strength. The AAP government seems to be in a fix on this issue and trying to employ its propaganda machinery to build up the justification for the policy. The coming period is going to be full of public mobilisation, political debates and ruling class political moves on this issue.

Government claims and farmers reactions

According to this policy, the government has decided to acquire 24,311 acres of land in 32 villages of Ludhiana district to develop urban estates. Similarly, the government propaganda machinery has announced that more urban estates are to be developed near 11 different cities of Punjab i.e. colonies with houses for living. For these urban estates, thousands of acres of land are to be acquired in different cities, which makes 12,341 acres. Similarly, land is also being acquired for further expansion of sectors of Mohali; including land for industrial projects. Approximately 65,533 acres of land from 164 villages across Punjab, are planned to be included under the land pooling policy. While announcing this policy, the government has claimed that these colonies are being established to meet the growing housing requirements. The government claims that it has made pro-people changes in the earlier land pooling policy. These colonies are to be established by the government itself, while keeping property dealers out. The returns are claimed to be good as the farmers are announced to be getting the plots allotted in their names too. The government is also talking about giving 400 times profit to farmers. The government has proposed to provide a residential plot of a thousand square yard and a commercial plot of 200 yards for every 1 acre of land acquired. The government claims that a subsistence allowance of 30,000 per acre will be given for three years after acquisition. The government also claims that the rate of these plots will be very high and the farmers will make a handsome profit. It is also being said that cheap houses will be provided to the urban people. The contradiction in the government claims is very evident. The very obvious question that arises is who will buy such high priced houses? Following the strong protests by farmers, some more concessions have now been added to this policy. For example, the annual amount has been increased from 30,000 to 50,000 per acre and it has also been said that this amount will be given till the development work starts. It has also been said that till the development work starts, the concerned farmers have been given the option to continue farming on the acquired land. Another concession is being given that a “letter of intent” will be issued within 21 days of getting farmers consent. The chief minister himself has made many other ridiculous announcements by holding press conferences, which are nothing more than an exercise to cajole the protesting farmers.

All these claims are in no way enough to allay the fears of the farmers for this policy. The reactions that are coming so far and the questions that are being raised by the affected farmers are reasonable.

These lands near the cities are already very dear. There is a section of farmers who hope to make huge profits if they sell their land. There is no scope for these farmers to get the price anywhere near that from the proposed projects which are known to be lingering for years. Nor can one live on ₹30,000 or 50,000 per annum, while the land leases have gone up to three times of this amount. These arguments are also reasonable as to what will be the meaning of such plots that will be developed after decades because the process of regular development and settlement of colonies have always been lingering for decades. How will the farmers displaced from land survive and where will they settle during this long period? An important section of farmers is barely surviving on small plots of land and have no other option but to engage in agriculture. This section is to be completely displaced by giving away their lands and what will happen to them if they get to settle (that too after years) on such a plot. This section is completely refusing to hand over the land and is becoming active to protect the land even amidst the worries of displacement of their agricultural occupation itself. The government claims that the farmers' land will be taken with consent are not worthy of the farmers’ trust because so far the governments have not been seen to be standing by such promises. Even now, the instructions given by the government to the lower officials show that there is no plan to take the consent of farmers for giving land. The government has banned the use of land for any other purpose other than agriculture. For this, written instructions have been issued. It has happened many times before that no work was done as per the announced projects and the lands were lying idle. When the right to sell the lands that came under the urban authorities is to be taken away from the farmers, then how will land be left at the will of the farmers? The incident that happened to the farmers of Mohali proves the fears of farmers rights. Rather, in this policy, a big difference has been made between the share of plots given to farmers with large lands and small farmers, which is blatant discrimination in favour of rich farmers as compared to the poor farmers.

Deceitful Violation of Land Acquisition and Resettlement Act  2013

To acquire land from the farmers, the Land Acquisition and Resettlement Act 2013 is already in place. Land acquisition is to be done under this Act, but the government is adopting a deceitful method to avoid some pro-farmer provisions of this Act. Various tempting offers are being made to lure farmers to get their consent. The offers that are being made under the Land Pooling policy are a clever way to get this consent. As per the terms of the Land Acquisition Act 2013, the process of acquiring such fertile land of Punjab becomes quite complicated for the government, and it also provides some scope of hearing for farmers. This law is not limited to the compensation price only, but as per the law, the purpose of the land acquisition, the need of the project to be implemented, the impact of displacement of the inhabited population, the crisis of displacement of communities, directly or indirectly dependent on land, estimates about the re-settlement arrangements, the impact of environment and other natural factors are taken as the basis. The conditions laid down by the law are not easily fulfilled in case of acquisition of the land which has high fertility potential and produces three crops a year. It is also interesting that the government has no specific purpose for the acquisition of land, as it is being acquired by the government for arbitrary purposes. The issue of dependence of farmers and farm labourers on these lands in this region that is the most fertile in the world and in the life of the village is very important and the logic of this displacement cannot be justified in any way. The government actually plans to acquire land bypassing this law. The government’s thrust is so strong that it is resorting to deceitful methods to escape from implementing this law. It wishes to be seen complying with the law by cajoling the farmers into giving their consent through false promises.

Why land pooling ?

As far as the truth of the government’s claims is concerned, there is a lot of false information in it. In fact, this question is also there, whether the stated purpose of using the land to develop urban estates is true or actually the land is being pooled to be ultimately used arbitrarily for the needs of big businessmen. The Bharatmala Project, under which a massive network of huge roads has been built in the state, was initiated as a part of the infrastructure development to expand the market for multinational companies. These roads are a link in the expansion of these businesses. The expansion which foremostly requires land, whether it is a real estate business, or building warehouses for finished goods or operating a shopping mall. While explaining the objectives of land pooling in the government’s policy document released on June 4, 2025, it has been declared that the land would be used for all kinds of purposes. This means that once the land goes to the government, it can be handed over to anyone for any purpose. The objective is clear that the government is pooling land to attract big businesses and companies – which is considered a necessary condition to increase the investment – by making the land available to the companies in a hassle free and instant manner and by saving the companies from the hazards of acquiring land when the need arises. This policy of land pooling is crafted under the guidelines of world imperialist organisations, according to which governments have been instructed to create land banks from which companies can obtain land whenever needed. This is an attempt to create such a land bank. Therefore, whether colonies are to be developed or any industrial project is to be set up, all that would be done by handing over the land to the private companies. The politicians would have their share of the pie by raking in the commissions from the sales.

What kind of urbanisation - housing for whom?

Even if it is accepted that this is actually being done only to establish urban colonies, even then such an urbanisation, for which the government claims to have brought the land pooling policy, is not a result of the natural process of development. The natural development process means the process of industrialisation where the peasantry, freed from agriculture, is drawn to urban industrial centres as workers and there arises a need for houses; as once happened in Europe during the course of development of capitalism. But under the current development model, this imposed urbanisation is detached from industrial development. Due to imperial plunder and domination of the country’s economy , the old industry is being destroyed, while the establishment of new industries is a distant dream. Therefore, these urban estates are not being built out of the need to establish new settlements for the workers, but rather to build luxurious residential colonies for the upper strata of society, in which there is no place for the working class masses. As far as the question of currently homeless urban workers is concerned, there is no plan even to provide some meagre kind of shelter to them; let alone establishing an urban estate for them. On the other hand, as far as the claim of developing these colonies for the upper strata of society is concerned, it is hard to digest that the colonies would be occupied any quickly by them. However, even in the colonies outside the cities, plots of land are already lying vacant and there is no visible population there. Nor has the government conducted any survey under which it can be estimated how many more houses are needed, in which city, and how many plots are already vacant. This situation also makes the claims of the government scheme doubtful. The picture that emerges from the situation is that all this is being done for real estate businesses who have invested huge capital in the sector and are going to earn huge profits. The government itself is buying land for these businessmen. The government’s claims of developing the land itself and providing houses to the needy are going to be deflated in a short time, and these lands are going to be handed over to real estate businessmen directly or indirectly, and they are going to use them in the ways they wish.

These real estate businesses are unproductive businesses which have nothing to do with the production process. In order to earn money from selling/ building properties to the upper strata of society, lands are being bought from farmers. A considerable volume of agriculture production is going to be stopped. The real estate business is driven by speculative profits, where prices are not determined by actual usage needs but by speculation, fluctuating up and down in a gambling-like manner without productive or useful application. At present, large companies prefer to earn profits through such speculative means rather than investing capital in productive activities. Farmers' fertile lands are being handed over to such speculative real estate businesses, and cheap labor is being thrown into the market without any guarantee of employment.

Part of all-round attack on lands

This land pooling policy is a part of an all-round attack on farmers' lands in the state. Under this attack, on one hand, the policy of handing over lands to multinational companies and big capitalists is being implemented, and on the other hand, the old landlords are also on a campaign to grab lands through their fraudulent claims of ownership based on fudged documents. The money lenders and landlords also have their eyes on the lands of farmers and in many villages in the state, such struggles are taking place where farmers are fighting to protect their lands from landlords and money lenders. Struggles are also taking place at various places for compensation of lands acquired for Bharat Mala project. At the global level, multinational corporations are on a campaign of land grabbing and this land pooling policy has been brought as a part of that campaign to provide lands to the companies. This has brought the question of protecting lands on the agenda of farmers of the state. This remains the most important issue of concern for the owner peasants at present.

Expansion of Predators’ Development Model

The protest by the farmers who are going to be affected may be in limited frame, but in reality, it is not limited to the issue of democratic will of farmers to give or not to give land. Its implications go far beyond this. This plan of pooling the fertile lands of the farmers and handing them over to the companies is part of the entire anti-people model of predators’ development. This so-called development, which is being done by playing with the lives of poor and landless peasants, agricultural workers, industrial workers, and other working classes of society, is actually the development of the paracytic class of society. These paracytic classes are the native and foreign companies, the big capitalists and landlords of the country and the real estate traders who do business on the basis of their capital. The urbanisation imposed under this is one of its symptoms, while the destruction of the environment, the destruction of natural resources like land, air, water, and forests, the ruination of workers’ employment, etc are all its various manifestations. The process of industrialisation in the country is already paralysed by the goods and commodities of imperialist countries and agriculture is already overwhelmed by feudal and imperialist plunder. Both the sectors, running like two wheels supporting each other have become stagnant. Instead of carrying forward and boosting the development of the economy, they are stuck. Whatever foreign capital comes, instead of boosting the productive activity of the country, goes into the stock market, real estate and other speculative businesses and flies away after skimming away the creamy layer. Such a market is expanding, the roots of which are connected to the imperialist World market, rather than with the domestic industry and agricultural production. Thus, the ‘development’ with high-rise buildings, shopping malls, wide roads, and silo warehouses is a process of moulding the country and Punjab as a part of the plunder market of the world imperialists. The logic behind this is to dispossess poor farmers and other sections dependent on agriculture from their lands, to throw them out of agriculture and to pool the land for global corporate world on the one hand and to pool the cheap labour force hanging like a pendulum between the villages and the cities on the other hand, which may be available for the mega projects of the companies at the extremely low wages. The model of industrialisation is also based on mega projects and export oriented under the world imperialist market. Apart from the limitations of not being employment oriented and being disconnected from local production chains, it is also environmentally destructive and based on extreme exploitation of natural resources. It is a different matter that for Indian ruling classes, such projects of imperialist companies have been a mirage and their search for such projects continues. The use of fertile lands for such destructive development is in no way in the interest of society.

Therefore, such schemes to pool land must be opposed not only because under these lands are planned to be acquired against the will of farmers, but also because these are part of the so-called development model, which is actually based on the destruction of the working class. Whether this destruction is in the form of pooling high fertile land for unproductive businesses like real estate or the indiscriminate use of fertile land for mega projects; and whether in the form of newly devised plans using more fertile land. To achieve the basic food security of food grains and other food items, such fertile land is a basic requirement, and long-term plans are needed for its conservation, whereas the government has taken the opposite direction. In no way can the use of such fertile lands for the profit of corporate businesses be justified. Such fertile lands are a natural gift and have been formed by the river flows over thousands of years. Their use for non-agriculture purposes should be very limited and in unavoidable conditions. These lands must not be sacrificed for profit making businesses of companies. Indifferent to all this, the current model of predators’ development is swallowing everything. Earlier, about one lakh acres of fertile land has been used in the road network laid under the Bharatmala project and now under the land pooling scheme, it is to reach the same mark of one lakh acres.

Therefore, going beyond the limited, democratic aspect of the farmers’ will during the protest against the land pooling scheme, this entire so-called development model should be made a target of political attack and its layers should be exposed before the people. Unnecessary urbanisation and dazzling constructions under the false name of development, should be exposed. The true path to genuine developmental targets should be discussed. The need for a model of economic development based on the development of agriculture should be highlighted. Only an agriculture based planned industrialisation linked with local production and addressed to the local market, can lead to real development. In such a development model, conscious efforts are required to preserve fertile land and maintain its productive capacity.

Therefore, while opposing the land pooling policy, demand should also be raised to reject this model of predators’ development and peoples’ destruction.

Many plots in colonies outside cities lie vacant, and there was no demand to establish new colonies, while thousands of agricultural laborer families in villages have been demanding five-marla plots for decades. Similarly, in cities, there are settlements of poor workers with slum-like houses built on various sites. These people have no ownership rights over such places. The city administration repeatedly evicts them from these locations. The government has never remembered these people. Neither has it thought of land pooling for them, nor has it ever shown any concern for their shelter. The land pooling policy reveals which classes the rulers serve and how this service is carried out.