Shiromani Akali Dal on Sunday urged Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda to frame a policy to return the agricultural land back to Punjabi farmers who have been systematically dispossessed of the land given to them on lease in 1951.
The party also urged him to stop this devastation activity still going on in the State with immediate effect. Terming Haryana Government’s action as “betrayal with Punjabi farmers”, the party also strongly condemned the alleged “double standards of Haryana Congress leaders on
displacement of the farmers”.
“They are demanding a resettlement policy for the farmers settled in Gujarat but are behaving just opposite in their own State,” said SAD Secretary and spokesman Daljit Singh Cheema in a statement released from the party head office in Chandigarh.
He stated that it may be recalled that thousands of Sikh farmers from Majha region were motivated to settle in remote and under-developed areas in and around Pehowa town which was a part of erstwhile Karnal district of undivided Punjab.
“They settled in Nimwala Kadiali, Kuppian, Mohanpur, Garhi langri, Bodhni, Isshak, Bohda, Krah sahib, Bakhli, Guldehra, Dhulgarh, Magna and many other nearby villages. Most of them are ex-servicemen and others are poor farmers from Majha region of Punjab,” he added.
Coming down heavily on Punjab Congress chief Partap Singh Bajwa and other senior leaders of the State Congress for closing their eyes on what is happening in the neighbouring state ruled by their party, Cheema said that it was astonishing to see Punjab Congress leaders shedding crocodile tears on the issue of Gujarat farmers but have preferred to keep mum on the plight of farmers in Haryana.
SAD urged the Congress to clear its stand on this important issue which is related with the life and property of Punjabi farmers in Haryana.
Reiterating the support of SAD to Punjabi farmers of Haryana, Cheema said that the party would not allow displacement of farmers in Haryana at any cost and will provide them support in every sphere they needed.