Massive rally by Bharatiya Kisan Sangh at Ramlila Grounds
Even before the Land Acquisition Bill receives Presidential assent and becomes a law, the farmers of the country have demanded that the Bill be reframed as Land Utility Bill to make it farmer friendly. They feel that the present Bill lacks the will power of safeguarding agricultural land from the clutches of land mafia and big corporates.
“We are of the firm opinion that there has been tremendous misuse of agricultural land for non-agricultural purposes. So, it is urgently needed to have complete ban on use of agricultural land for any other purpose other than areas of utmost national importance like Defence, etc. Farmers should also have right to give their land on lease for some specific time instead of acquisition. So, we urge upon you to direct the Government to immediately withdraw this Bill and reframe it making it more farmers’ friendly,” the Kisan Sangh said in a memorandum to the President of India Shri Pranab Mukherjee on September 12.
Kisan Sangh’s 8 member delegation called on the President Shri Mukherjee on September 12. The eight member delegation included Kisan Sangh president Shri Anna Sahib Murkute, general secretary Shri Prabhakar Kelkar, secretaries Shri Ambu Bhai, Shri Sunil Pandey, Shri Mohini Mohan Mishra, Shri Brij Kishore, organising secretary Shri Dinesh Kulkarni and national treasurer Shri Yugal Kishore. The President Shri Mukherjee listened to the delegation patiently and assured to help them in resolving their problems.
The Kisan Adhikar Rally was organised at Ramlila Grounds on September 13, in which farmers from more than 400 districts of the country participated. The farmers warned the government against its anti-farmers policies and said the continuing neglect of agricultural sector will cost dearly to the nation. They presented a five point-charter before the government and demanded immediate action. The five points include— a separate budget for agriculture sector; Land Acquisition Bill be reframed to make it a Land Utility Bill and farmers should have proprietary rights on land and also to rent out their land on contract basis; Farmers be ensured remunerative prices for their produces on the basis of input cost; Government should guarantee the purchase of agricultural produces on the basis of minimum remunerative prices; and privatisation of water and seeds should be stopped immediately.
Addressing the farmers at the rally Kisan Sangh president Shri Sahib Murkute said there is a height of injustice to farmers. “Even after so many suicides by farmers the Government is still sleeping. We have gathered here to let the people themselves see what the farmers want,” he emphasised.
Kisan Sangh organising secretary Shri Dinesh Kulkarni said the farmers have filled the godowns of India with foodgrains but the government has not kept its promise of providing remunerative prices of the produce. National secretary Shri Mohini Mohan Mishra said the Government just aims at profiting from the foreign companies and corporate houses. Shri Yugal Kishore said first the Government snatched seeds and fertilizers from the us and now they are conspiring to snatch the land also.
(Heena Nanda)
