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Ujjain Land Victory: Why Farmers' Fight Against MP Govt Isn't Over

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has revoked the controversial land pooling policy in Ujjain following sustained farmer protests. Congress leader Mahesh Parmar called this a partial victory but demanded the scheme be withdrawn across the entire state. The policy was introduced to build permanent infrastructure for the 2028 Simhastha Kumbh Mela with a massive Rs 2,000 crore investment. Farmer organizations including the RSS-affiliated BKS had been protesting the scheme for months, forcing the government's reversal just before a planned major agitation.

Key Points: Congress Calls Ujjain Land Scheme Withdrawal Partial Farmers Victory

  • Farmers faced harassment through fake charges for refusing land acquisition
  • Scheme aimed to build permanent Kumbh Mela infrastructure with Rs 2,000 crore investment
  • RSS-affiliated BKS led major tractor rally against the land policy in September
  • Congress had opposed the scheme in state Assembly with some BJP leaders' support
2 min read

MP: Withdrawal of land pooling scheme from Ujjain is half victory for farmers, says Cong leader

Congress leader Mahesh Parmar says Ujjain land pooling withdrawal is half victory, demands state-wide cancellation of controversial farmers scheme ahead of Kumbh Mela.

"It's a victory for farmers, who refused to accept the BJP government's proposals - Mahesh Parmar"

Bhopal, Nov 18

A day after Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav revoked the land pooling policy in the religious city Ujjain, the Opposition Congress demanded that the state government should withdraw this controversial land acquiring scheme from across the state.

Congress leader Mahesh Parmar, who is a sitting MLA from Ujjain's Tarana Assembly constituency, talking to IANS, said on Tuesday that a collective fight of farmers and other social organisations have forced the state government to withdraw the controversial land pooling policy.

"It's a victory for farmers, who refused to accept the BJP government's proposals and decided to oppose the land pooling policy in Ujjain. But real victory will come when this controversial scheme will be withdrawn from across Madhya Pradesh. Congress will continue to fight for the farmers," Parmar told IANS in Bhopal.

The Congress MLA also alleged that farmers who had refused to give their lands under the (revoked) policy were harassed through fake charges, but they stood firm to save their land.

He said that when the scheme was brought into the state Assembly, Congress had opposed it.

"Even several BJP leaders had opposed the scheme. They couldn't say anything, but they were supporting the farmers, which made CM Mohan Yadav to withdraw it eventually. Whenever the Congress opposed this policy, some senior BJP leaders were highlighting benefits from it. Now where are those benefits?" the Congress MLA asked.

The land pooling scheme was introduced in 2024 with an aim of building a permanent structure, including roads, buildings, Ashrams, as part of the Simhastha Kumbh Mela in 2028 with an investment of Rs 2,000 crore in Ujjain.

Until now the state government used to build temporary infrastructure for Simhastha Kumbh Mela, that takes place every 12 years in Ujjain.

The scheme was seen as an ambitious attempt by CM Yadav, who is an MLA from Ujjain, to transform it into a major pilgrim city.

The move, however, has met with constant opposition from hundreds of farmers from the region.

The RSS-affiliated Bharatiya Kisan Sangh (BKS) had also led a major tractor rally in Ujjain in September in protest of the scheme.

The move comes amid protests from various farmer organisations and a day before a planned major agitation in Ujjain on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the BKS has now called off its planned agitation.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
While I'm happy for Ujjain farmers, I'm concerned about the Kumbh Mela infrastructure. We need permanent facilities for such a massive religious gathering. Maybe the government can find a middle path that doesn't harm farmers' interests.
A
Arjun K
This is pure politics before elections. Both parties playing games with farmers' emotions. Congress opposed it, BJP implemented it, now BJP withdrawing it. When will our leaders think about actual development rather than vote bank politics?
M
Meera T
As someone from Ujjain, I've seen how much farmers were suffering. Fake cases, pressure tactics - it was horrible. Glad they stood strong. Jai Kisan! 🙏 Our farmers are the backbone of our nation.
S
Sarah B
Interesting to see how farmer protests can bring policy changes in India. The collective power of people's movements is remarkable. Hope this sets a positive precedent for farmer rights across the country.
V
Vikram M
₹2000 crore investment for Kumbh Mela infrastructure is huge money. While farmers' rights must be protected, we also need to think about developing Ujjain as a world-class pilgrim city. There has to be a balanced approach.

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