The Gujarat government had formed a committee seeking suggestions that would allow non-farmers to buy agricultural land and engage in farming. The CL Meena Committee was formed, and they presented their report in February 2024.

Now, the Opposition Congress is opposing this proposal. Congress MLA Amit Chavda addressed the media regarding the proposal.

Chavda mentioned that the state and the country are flourishing because of farming and the hard work of farmers. He pointed out that more than 53 lakh farmers in the state are engaged in agriculture, and that under the BJP’s rule over the past 30 years, agriculture in the state has worsened.

He further stated that the government’s new proposal to allow non-farmers to engage in farming could have serious negative consequences.

“After India’s independence, most of the land belonged to the ‘Rajwada’ community, and under them, farming was done by SC/ST/OBC people. Afterward, the Congress government helped farmers by transferring land ownership to them and enforcing the Land Ceiling Act to protect farmers’ land,” he said.

He explained that new land regulations were introduced by the Congress to prevent the sale of pre-sanctioned land of farmers. However, when the BJP government came into power in 1995, the 8-km limit on land transactions was lifted, allowing capitalists to buy land, which led to hoarding of agricultural land by capitalists.

Amit Chavda alleged that the new proposal raises serious concerns about whether there will be land or agricultural production in the future. He pointed out that the Meena Committee submitted its report in February 2024, and the government is now considering an amendment that would allow non-farmers to become farmers in Gujarat. 

He believes this move will destroy both farming and the farmers of Gujarat, as land will once again be concentrated in the hands of capitalists, and even common grazing lands (gauchar lands) will be taken away from farmers.

Accusing the revenue department of corruption, Chavda claimed that it is the most corrupt sector in the Gujarat government. He stated that while there are scams involving the conversion of non-farmers into farmers, the government is now introducing laws that will reduce the number of farmers and decrease agricultural production, leading to the re-exploitation of SC, ST, and OBC communities as labourers.

Chavda concluded by issuing a warning to the government. He said, “This is Congress’s warning, and we oppose this proposal. If this law is passed, allowing non-farmers to become farmers, the Congress will strongly oppose it. We will protest from the streets to the Legislative Assembly, and our opposition will be firm. This is a warning!”

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