Bathinda Administration Shifts Stance, Backs Farmers' Rally After Past Confrontations
In a notable turn of events, the Bathinda district and police administration, which had previously employed teargas shells against protesting farmers, has now extended logistical support for a rally organized by various farmer and labor organizations. This rally, scheduled for Friday, aims to protest a recent crackdown on demonstrators at Jeond village in Bathinda, signaling a potential de-escalation in tensions.
Administration Facilitates Peaceful Protest at Puda Ground
On Wednesday, the Bathinda administration convened a meeting with top leaders of the farm organization BKU Ekta Ugrahan to ensure a smooth rally. An agreement was reached to hold the event at the Puda ground, located near the District Administrative Complex (DAC), with the administration committing to provide machinery and other logistical assistance for ground preparation. This move is seen as a first step toward addressing the farmers' demands, according to participating groups.
Shingara Singh Mann, secretary of BKU Ekta Ugrahan, emphasized the significance of this development. "We do not want unnecessary confrontation, but we were determined to hold a massive rally against the atrocities committed by police at Jeond on February 18," he stated. "Over 40 organizations have assured participation. When the administration requested us not to hold the rally at the DAC and offered an alternate place, we agreed. However, we will continue to raise our voice against the police action and demand accountability for guilty officials, alongside our core demand for land demarcation and consolidation in Jeond."
Mann, who recently penned an open letter to Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann criticizing the police response, added, "If the administration was sincere, such a situation could have been prevented. They should have allowed us to protest in the first place, which is our fundamental right." Bathinda Deputy Commissioner Rajesh Dhiman confirmed the meeting and the agreement for a peaceful protest at the Puda ground, highlighting efforts to maintain order.
Background: Longstanding Land Rights Dispute in Jeond Village
The rally is rooted in a protracted land rights issue in Jeond village, where farmers have been tilling approximately 700 acres of land for nearly a century without formal ownership rights. BKU Ekta Ugrahan has previously held protests demanding these rights, with the matter currently pending in the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
In an order dated April 24, 2023, a bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court directed state authorities to trace land records and issue a notification for consolidation within six weeks. When this directive was not implemented, a contempt of court petition was filed. The next hearing for this contempt petition is scheduled for April 29, 2026, underscoring the ongoing legal battle and the urgency of the farmers' demands.
The administration's support for the rally represents a shift from past confrontations, potentially paving the way for dialogue and resolution. As farmers prepare to gather, the focus remains on securing land rights and justice for the affected communities in Bathinda.
