SAD Candidate Slams AAP Government Over Land Acquisition, Alleges Massive Scam

• May 28, 2025

Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) candidate for the upcoming Ludhiana West by-election, advocate Parupkar Singh Ghumman, has strongly criticized the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab over its decision to acquire 24,311 acres of fertile land from 32 villages for developing a new urban estate. Addressing the media, Ghumman claimed that the move would severely impact farmers, urban residents, and the state's economy.

He accused Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s government of orchestrating a massive scam under the pretext of development, alleging that the real motive was to divert Punjab’s resources to Delhi. Ghumman even went as far as to claim that a scam worth ₹125 lakh crore was underway, calling it a betrayal of Punjab and its people.

“The SAD will never allow this betrayal,” Ghumman declared, announcing a large-scale protest outside the GLADA (Greater Ludhiana Area Development Authority) office on Ferozepur Road at 9:30 AM on Wednesday. During the protest, a memorandum outlining their demands will be submitted to the authorities.

He accused the government of spreading misinformation by portraying the land acquisition as beneficial to farmers. “It’s a false narrative,” he said, warning that such actions would damage not only agriculture but also trade and livelihoods, especially given that Punjab’s economy has slipped from 2nd to 26th place nationally since 2017.

“Agriculture is the backbone of Punjab’s economy. Any attack on land and farming is an attack on the state’s future,” he added. Ghumman also pledged free legal support to affected residents, vowing to challenge the acquisition in court if needed.

Accusations of Bias in Election Conduct

Ghumman also raised concerns over alleged election code violations, accusing government officials of favouring AAP’s candidate Sanjeev Arora. He claimed that while his campaign hoardings, even on private property, were removed by municipal officials, those of the AAP candidate remained untouched.

“The bureaucracy is clearly acting in favour of the ruling party,” he alleged, adding that the SAD has lodged multiple complaints with the Election Commission against both AAP and Congress for violating the model code of conduct.

Ghumman concluded by asserting that the upcoming protest would serve as a strong message against what he termed as the AAP government’s “anti-Punjab agenda.”