Punjab Cabinet withdraws land pooling policy 2025; farmers term it as people’s movement victory

Punjab Cabinet on Thursday (August 14, 2025) gave approval to withdraw the controversial land pooling policy-2025, even as farmer outfits declared it a victory of farmers’ and the people of Punjab.

The Cabinet, in its meeting chaired by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, decided to withdraw the notification of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Punjab pertaining to Land Pooling Policy 2025 issued on June 4, 2025, along with subsequent Amendments, said an official statement.

The AAP government notified the Land Pooling Policy on June 4, which invited sharp criticism and resistance from farmers and farm labourer outfits, landholders, and political parties. The Punjab and Haryana High Court has also observed that the policy prima facie appeared to have been notified in “haste”.

Farmer outfits welcomed the withdrawal of the land pooling policy notification, terming it a victory of farmers and the people of Punjab.

Jagmohan Singh, general secretary, Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ekta-Dakonda), “We appreciate this step, but it was achieved due to the efforts of the people, especially farmers, pro-people intellectuals, and journalists. We have decided to celebrate August 24 as ‘victory day’,” he said.

Joginder Singh, president of Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ugrahan), one of the largest outfits in Punjab, also said the decision to withdraw the policy was a “magnificent victory of the massive people’s movement.” He added, “We will continue to stand firm and struggle to protect our future from getting ruined by anti-people policies of the government.