Farmers make all toll plazas across Punjab free in protest against land pooling policy

PTC News Desk: In the wake of protest against the government over-long-standing demands, farmers on Tuesday made all the toll plazas across Punjab free including the Ladowal Toll Plaza near Ludhiana, one of the most expensive toll plazas in the state.

Farmers have staged a sitting protest at the toll plazas, allowing vehicles to pass without paying any toll tax to mark their protest against government's proposed Land Pooling Scheme. They are also demanding justice  in alleged fraud cases related to mortgaged land and the Land Mortgage Bank.

The protesting farmers have also expressed grave concerns over the proposed India-US Free Trade Agreement which they describe as a deal against the agricultural interests of local farmers. These issues were discussed at meetings held at various toll plazas across Punjab before the protests began.

'Attempt to hand over fertile land to corporates'

Jagjit Singh Dallewal, national coordinator of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and president of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ekta Sidhupur), had declared that all toll plazas in Punjab would be made toll-free for the public on July 14.

Dallewal accused the government of trying to acquire Punjab's fertile agricultural land and hand it over to large corporate houses. He said the Land Pooling Policy is a step in that direction and warned that farmers would oppose it at any cost.

Farmer leaders said the protest would remain peaceful, but toll companies would not be allowed to collect toll tax until 4 pm. They described the agitation as a decisive fight to protect their land and livelihoods.