Farmers Win, Panjab Withdraws Land Pooling Policy

On 11 Aug, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led Panjab government announced the withdrawal of the policy facing backlash over its controversial Land Pooling Policy 2025. Principal Secretary, Department of Housing and Urban Development Vikas Garg said, 'Government hereby withdraws the Land Pooling Policy dated 14.05.2025 and its subsequent amendments. Consequently, all actions, like Letters of Intent issued, registrations done or any other action taken thereunder shall be reversed henceforth.' The govt intended to acquire 65,533 acres in 165 villages adjoining major cities like Ludhiana, Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar, and others. The policy aimed for an urbanization push in a state that is dominated by a rural population with deep roots in farming. On 6 Aug, the Punjab and Haryana High Court questioned and stayed the govt from bringing in the policy without undertaking any environmental or social impact assessment. Farmer and farm laborer unions, landholders, and political parties opposed the policy. Most of Panjab’s media took up the cause of opponents of the policy. Numerous gram panchayats (village councils) passed resolutions against the policy. Indian National Congress (INC), the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) accused AAP of attempting to grab land from farmers. A farmer leader Jagmohan Singh from Samyukt Kisan Morcha said, ‘It seems good sense has prevailed...The policy was unconstitutional as it violated the provisions of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013, under which the consent of 70% of landowners surrounding any land acquisition is required.’ Opposition parties termed it a victory. SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal congratulated all Panjabis for fighting unitedly. INC leader and Member of Legislative Assembly Pargat Singh said the withdrawal was a victory for Panjab’s farmers, laborers, and every citizen who had participated in the grassroots movement against the policy. This is the Panjab farmers’s second victory in 5 years since the Indian Prime Minister repealed the draconian Farm Laws in November 2021 after a close to year-long Farmers Protest 1.0 in Delhi (earlier coverage).

On 11 Aug, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) breakaway group has elected former acting Jathedar (leader) of Sri Akal Takht Sahib (Eternal Throne, AT) and Jathedar Takht Sri Damdama Sahib (Throne, DT) Giani Harpreet Singh as its first president. The group also elected Bibi Satwant Kaur, daughter of Shahid (martyr) Bhai Amrik Singh, as chairperson of the Panthic (Sikh collective) Council. The breakaway group claims 150K members and says it has followed all AT instructions on choosing its leaders. On 6 Aug, AT Jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargajj had passed a Hukamnama (edict) which said that the 2 Dec 2024 edict asked the different Akali Dals to get together. If a group does not want to follow the instructions then ‘they are free to do as they please’ but they are not allowed to claim they are ‘fulfilling the Akal Takht instructions.’ Also, after first allotting the Bhai Gurdas Hall, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) did not allow the group to install the Guru Granth Sahib (holy scripture) in the hall. The group then moved to Gurdwara Burj Akali Phoola Singh for the proceedings. The SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami distanced himself from the proceedings. He remarked that becoming president of Akali Dal was Giani Harpreet’s ‘long time ambition.’ Calling the development a ‘conspiracy’ and ‘pre-planned drama,’ Dhami alleged that the decision to appoint Giani Harpreet Singh was predetermined. This is the main critique Giani Harpreet faces: how could he as Jathedar DT be part of the decision to ask SAD to disband, its president Sukhbir Singh Badal to resign, and now occupy the same position? However, the original SAD also did not disband, and Badal became its president once again in March 2025. Giani Harpreet has vowed to revive the original spirit of Akali Dal, in his speech he recounted earlier AT jathedars who had gone on to become SAD presidents. The appointment of the first marginal caste leader as president of SAD breakaway group is a vertical split in SAD and has come as a jolt to Badal (earlier coverage).

At a meeting of opposition Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) led by Indian National Congress (INC), to discuss Election Commission of India’s (ECI) Special Intensive Revision of voter rolls in Bihar and Vice-Presidential elections on 7 Jul, INC leader Rahul Gandhi presented what he called the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) 'vote theft' in Karnataka. Gandhi said INC’s study of Mahadevapura segment of Bangalore Central Lok Sabha (Lower House of Parliament) constituency during the national elections in 2024 has found six irregularities to increase over one hundred thousand voters in just that segment. The irregularities are: same voter appearing multiple times in rolls, same voter in multiple states, non-existent addresses, bulk voters at a single address, indistinguishable photo on voter IDs and misuse of Form 6 for first-time voters. The BJP had won this election with a margin of 2.4% votes. On the same day, the Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) wrote to Gandhi asking him to submit a formal declaration under oath backing his vote theft charge, along with the names of electors allegedly wrongfully included in the voter list. This is both wrong and ironic because there is no provision in ECI’s rules to take oath on data that is 15 months old and all of Gandhi’s evidence is based on ECI’s own data. The only ECI rule that comes close is Rule Number 20 (3, clause B) Registration of Electors Rules, 1960 which says any issue with electoral rolls must be brought up under oath within 30 days of publishing the rolls. The BJP has jumped into defence of ECI which indicates collusion. On 11 Aug, the INDIA bloc leaders boycotted Parliament and marched towards the ECI office but were detained by the Delhi police. Panjab INC chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring supported Gandhi. Concurrently, in Ludhiana West constituency, petitioner Jaswinder Singh Malhi has filed a case in the Punjab and Haryana High Court to declare Aam Aadmi Party’s winner candidate Sanjeev Arora’s election as Member of Legislative Assembly void because his expenses vastly exceeded limits set by ECI (earlier coverage).

On 6 Aug, US President Donald Trump announced an extra 25% tariff on India for the continued import of Russian crude oil. He vowed similar measures against other countries that buy, directly or indirectly, from Russia and fund its President Vladimir Putin's war on Ukraine. Trump's latest tariff on Indian goods into the US is 50%, 20% more than the tariff on China, and equivalent to Brazil. India failed to get a decent deal from the US. Though, to bridge the USD 47B goods trade gap, India pledged to buy up to USD 25B in US energy and boost defence imports, when Trump talked up a 'big' imminent deal, India hardened its stance, especially on agriculture and dairy. Negotiators even pushed for relief from the 10% average US tariff announced in April, plus a rollback of steel, aluminium, and auto duties. This is a case of overconfidence and miscalculation by India. Trump has indicated that he may even pause trade talks between the two countries until the oil issue is resolved. India is now considering reducing reliance on US goods, shift in the export basket, boost domestic market, and ease of doing business reforms. This tariff hike is set to make India's premium grain uncompetitive against rival Pakistan in a key global market. If basmati growers are compelled to switch to regular paddy, it could undermine Panjab's crop diversification efforts, which are essential to conserving groundwater resources. Pakistan's lower tariff rate will likely shift a greater share of the US market towards their exports, which currently are 50% compared to India’s 19%. The 300 export units in Ludhiana alone face a risk of USD 1153M. A leading Ludhiana-based auto components exporter to the US, who requested not to be identified, said, 'Till tariff is 25%, we remain competitive with China. If the tariff on our exports is increased, China, where steel is much cheaper, gains an advantage.' To cut costs, exporters say they may have to shift to places near ports. If and when it happens, this move could thwart Panjab’s growth (earlier coverage).

The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) held a special general meeting on 5 Aug attended by head granthi (reciter) of Darbar Sahib (Golden Temple) Giani Raghbir Singh, SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami, and nearly 100 SGPC members. After the meeting the SGPC unanimously passed a resolution urging the Jathedars (leaders) to uphold the traditional honor, authority, and spiritual significance of the Takhts (thrones). While each Takht has its own historical and regional significance, the resolution stressed that all five Takhts operate under one uniform gurmat maryada (Code of the Guru’s Way) and the will of the Guru. While all five Takhts are important in their own right, the Panth (Sikh collective) collectively recognizes the supremacy of Sri Akal Takht Sahib (Eternal Throne, AT). Meanwhile, a Sikh family from Germany has approached AT saying that Gurdwara Singh Sabha in Singen, Germany, refused them the right to perform Bhog and Antim Ardas (last prayers) after the death of their mother. AT has directed the Gurdwara committee to lift the ban imposed on the family and submit a written clarification within two weeks. Bagicha Singh, in-charge of the AT secretariat, said a letter has been issued to Gurdwara president Davinder Singh instructing him to revoke the ban on Daljit Singh and Parmjit Singh, along with their family members, from entering the Gurdwara. Concurrently, concerned over the spread of misinformation related to Gurbani, Sikh history, and religious teachings through Artificial Intelligence platforms, the SGPC has called on the union government to formulate a concrete policy to curb such practices. The SGPC has also written to multiple AI companies, urging them to take immediate corrective measures. However, most of these AI platforms are open source and their companies cannot do much to correct the content. There is a need for SGPC to form a team to feed correct information and the platforms will likely incorporate (earlier coverage).

Panjab Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains appeared before Sri Akal Takht Sahib (Eternal Throne, AT) on 6 Aug. AT had summoned Bains for organizing 'entertainment performances,' involving dance and music, at a program held in Srinagar on 24 Jul to mark the 350^th martyrdom anniversary of Guru Teghbahadar, the ninth Sovereign. The Punjab Language Department had organized the event held at Tagore Hall in Srinagar. Bains apologized for the Srinagar event, which was seen as a 'deep affront to Sikh sentiments'. The AT ordered tankhah (salary, implying punishment) by asking him to visit Gurdwara Guru Ke Mahal and Gurdwara Kotha Sahib (Patshahi Nauvin) in Amritsar and Gurdwara Baba Bakala Sahib, and to oversee repair of roads and development works in the surrounding infrastructure. Bains will then offer prayers at the martyrdom site of Guru Teghbahadar at Gurdwara Sri Sis Ganj Sahib in Delhi and proceed to Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib in Anandpur Sahib where he will participate in service at the jora ghar (shoe house) for two days. Upon completion, he will make an offering of USD 12 and perform ardas (prayer). This is the first time the punishment of social work has been imposed on a member of the Panjab government by the Sikh authorities. Meanwhile, despite a 38% increase in capital outlay in 2024-25, Panjab has the lowest capital expenditure among the major states in India. Panjab has allocated USD 1.18B for capital expenditure in 2025-26, up from USD 858.7M in 2024-25. Concurrently, speaking on Panjab's Bill Liao Inam Pao (Bring Bill, Take Award) scheme, state Finance, Planning, Excise and Taxation Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said since its inception, 176K bills have been uploaded and 5,644 winners have received a total of USD 376K in prize money. Penalties worth USD 1046K were imposed on entities found guilty of irregularities in issuing bills to consumers. USD 841K has already been recovered. In other news, On 11 Aug, nearly 15K Punjab Power Corporation employees started a 3-day strike over pending demands (earlier coverage).

The National Green Tribunal’s (NGT) latest order, prompted by multiple petitions filed by the Public Action Committee (PAC), Mattewara, lays bare gross violations by three Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETP) that continue to discharge treated effluent into Buddha Nullah (a rivulet in Ludhiana). The NGT has now set a two-month deadline for the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) to conclude its proceedings and directed the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) to submit a comprehensive report detailing violations, environmental compensation and recovery status. All parties have been directed to file compliance affidavits before the next hearing on 7 Oct. The CETPs—15 MLD, 40 MLD, and 50 MLD capacity—were found in prolonged violation of environmental clearance conditions, including failure to implement Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD), lack of consent to operate and unauthorized discharge of effluent. The MoEFCC confirmed that all three units continued to release treated wastewater directly into Buddha Nullah. Despite environmental compensation of USD 115K already imposed, the plants continue to remain operational. The PPCB counsel submitted that a comprehensive remediation plan was being prepared, for which Indian Institute of Technology, Ropar had been taken on board. Meanwhile, PAC has sent an urgent letter to Jal Shakti (Union Water) Ministry and Panjab government, warning that water levels at Bhakra and Pong dams are nearing critical thresholds. PAC is calling for precautionary measures to avoid repeating the mistakes that led to the devastating floods in Panjab in 2023. This flooding was due to operational decisions on release of water, which, in conjunction with heavy inflow in Bhakra and Pong Dam, led to sudden large releases and floods in Panjab. Near Sultanpur Lodhi and Bolath, the Beas River has breached temporary blockades and water has inundated 4K acres in 20 villages. Other parts of Panjab are facing danger of floods as water level in the Ghaggar river nears the danger mark after persistent rain upstream in Himachal Pradesh (earlier coverage).

On 5 Aug, a police team entered a pre-primary classroom at a government school in Bathinda to prevent a teacher from participating in a protest for regularization of services to be held 150 km away in Ludhiana. Despite the presence of three to six-year-old children, the uniformed officers remained in the classroom for six hours, from 8 am until the school's closing at 2 pm. The teacher Veerpal Kaur Sidhana said she had no plans to attend the protest where Panjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann was addressing a public meeting. Sidhana is the state president of the Shaheed Kiranjit Kaur Pre-Primary Associate Adhyapak (Teachers) Union, Panjab. Calling the presence of police personnel in uniform in her classroom a direct attack on her rights, Sidhana said, 'The real face of the so-called Sikhiya Kranti (Education Revolution) of the Aam Admi Party govt has been unmasked.' The Democratic Teacher Front state president, Digvijay Pal Sharma, said, ‘It is an unthinkable act of the police.’ After school hours, teachers lodged a formal protest with the Bathinda Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Amneet Kondal who said, ‘No order was issued to go to the school.’ In another incident, in a video gone viral, a police officer and another person in civilian clothes (also a policeman) in Batala can be seen repeatedly punching and kicking a journalist Balwinder Singh. The assault takes place in full public view. During the assault, Balwinder collapses into a water-filled pothole and lies motionless as the attackers walk away. The man in civilian clothing returns to kick the victim again. Moments later, the uniformed officer also returns, seemingly to check on the victim, before walking away. Balwinder remains motionless on the road while passersby continue to look on. Eventually, a group of locals rush to his aid, but the journalist appears unresponsive. Senior Superintendent of Police, Batala Suhail Qasim Mir said that the two attackers have been identified as Sub-Inspectors Mandeep Singh and Surjit Kumar from the 5th Battalion of the Punjab Police Commandos stationed in Bathinda.

In New Zealand, Lorenzo Tangira who attacked and killed Indian national Ramandeep Singh while he was on duty as a security guard in West Auckland has been sentenced to life sentence with a minimum term of imprisonment of 13 years and nine months. His 17-year-old (unnamed because minor) co-accused was found unfit to stand trial after a separate hearing in April. Meanwhile in Los Angeles, a 70-year-old Sikh man Harpal Singh was nearly bludgeoned to death with a golf club on 4 Aug in what is being considered a possible hate crime. The brutal violence unfolded outside a 7-Eleven store near the intersection of Saticoy Street and Lankershim Boulevard. Witnesses said a man on a bicycle attacked Harpal with a golf club. In parallel, on 5 Aug, the Federal Bureau of Investigation released its annual report of hate crime statistics for 2024 which said there were 142 religiously motivated hate-crimes against Sikhs, down from 150 in 2023 and 198 in 2022. Sikhs continue to be the third most targeted group under religiously motivated hate crime in the US, after Jews and Muslims. Concurrently in Italy, on 18 Jul, a migrant worker from Panjab Balvir Kumar Birra lost his life in a road accident. Like Satnam Singh in 2024, Birra died in the Latina province where the death rate in road accidents increased by 47% from 2019 to 2023. This is where migrant workers are engaged in agricultural labor, a large share of them Panjabis and do not get safe travel options to go to work in fields. Whereas in Canada, Indian comedian and actor Kapil Sharma’s cafe was shot at for the second time and an alleged recording of a Lawrence Bishnoi gang member has surfaced. A man in the audio clip claimed to be a Bishnoi gang member named Harry Boxer, who threatened to gun down Bollywood filmmakers, actors, and producers working with Indian actor Salman Khan. Khan was accused of killing blackbucks in Jodhpur, Rajasthan in 1998. Though Indian courts let Khan walk free, the Bishnoi community holds him responsible for the killings (earlier coverage).

The Supreme Court of India has issued notice to the union government on the Panjab govt’s petition challenging the Governor’s action in reserving Bills passed by the state legislative assembly for the President's assent. Panjab has sought a declaration that the Sikh Gurdwaras (Amendment) Bill, 2023, and the Punjab Police (Amendment) Bill, 2023, passed by the state assembly have got 'deemed assent' such as the SCI’s 8 Apr verdict in Tamil Nadu’s case due to the ‘inaction’ of the Governor. Issuing notices to the Principal Secretary to the Governor and Panjab Legislative Assembly Secretary, a Bench led by Chief Justice of India Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai posted the matter for hearing after eight weeks. The Gurdwara Bill seeks free of cost, uninterrupted live feed of the holy Guru Granth Sahib from Darbar Sahib (Golden Temple) in Amrtisar to all media houses, platforms, and channels. The Police Bill is to create an independent mechanism for selection and appointment of suitable persons to the post of Director General of Police. Meanwhile, more than 2K advocates across India have backed a requisition by Panjab lawyer Tahar Singh seeking the immediate filling up of approximately 283 vacant High Court judges’ posts, including 26 in the Punjab and Haryana High Court. They warned that judicial delays, institutional favoritism, and nepotism are threatening the credibility and independence of the higher judiciary. Concurrently, according to the 2021, the tree cover in Panjab is 3.67%. The 2023 version of the report says Panjab has lost 22% of its forest and tree cover over the past 22 years. The existing tree preservation policy is not enough to tackle the problem, and Panjab needs a new law to tackle the issue. The founder of the Vatrukh Foundation Samita Kaur and the founder of Water Warriors of Punjab Manjit Singh have proposed a Tree Preservation Act and submitted the draft to the Chief Minister, the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, the leader of the Opposition, Members of Legislative Assembly, and the Chief Secretary.

‍