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15
June: Farmer Kartar Singh, a senior citizen, from Bhora kalaan,
Muzaffar Nagar, became a martyr during the agitation by farmers of
Bhartiya Kisan Union today at BJP office. Police personnel were
present in large numbers. Ironically water cannons were already
deployed, but there were no water tanks for people to drink water.
Kartar Singh lost his life due to non-availability of water in the
scorching sun and an untoward scuffle with policemen. More than 50
thousand farmers had assembled at Jantar Mantar road early this
morning. The farmers demonstrated their solidarity with their
brethren of Annupur district, Madhya Pradesh, who have been jailed
for protesting against forcible land acquisition. Hordes of farmers
have reached from far and wide places like Haryana, Punjab, Uttar
Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. They are demanding
immediate release of arrested farmers by the Shhivraj Singh Chauhan
led Bhartiya Janta Party state govt of Madhya Pradesh, and also a
fair compensation for their land, after following due procedures of
land acquisition.
The
farmers will continue to stay put at the BJP office at Ashoka road in
Delhi.
Background:Forcible
Land Acquisition by BJP Madhya Pradesh state govt
In
the hinterland of Madhya Pradesh is a lesser known Annupur
district with over one third forest area. The sparsely populated
district has 6 lakh natives where more than 3 lakh are Scheduled
tribes and over 4 lakh are Scheduled castes. The nation is as
oblivious to existence of Annupur as to the struggle of its farmers.
Farmers
here were aghast when their standing crop was destroyed by state
administration of Madhya Pradesh and the land awarded to Moser
Baer Projects Thermal Power plant in 2010 in a gross violation of
the current LARR (Land Acquisition and Rehabilitation and
Resettlement Act.)
Farmers
had refused to part with their lands at the states measly offering.
The state has also not sought any prior clearance from Environment
Ministry. The land acquisition of fertile cultivable forest land for
a coal based thermal power plant violates norms of EPA
(Environment Protection Act), FRA (Forest Rights Act) or
PESA (Panchayat Extension to Scheduled
Areas Act).
Farmer’s land was forcibly acquired regardless of their
dissent ongoing since 2010. Meanwhile Moser Baers Project’s
construction is nearing 60% completion.
Farmers
from Bharitya Kisan Union led a peaceful demonstration on 5th
May, 2012. The state police lathi charged the defenceless
farmers and slapped criminal charges on them like IPC section 307
(Attempt to murder), 147 (rioting), 148 (rioting with
weapons), 149 (every member of unlawful assembly). Charges
were framed also against Rakesh Tikait, head of Bhartiya Kisan Union,
who wasn’t even present at the 5th May demonstration.
BKU planned for another agitation against the malicious indictment of
farmers on 30th May. When Rakesh Tikait and hundreds of
others reached Annupur by railways, they were arrested from the
station in Annupur. Rakesh Tikait and hundreds of other innocent
farmers are still in various jails in Annupur. While BJP led Madhya
Pradesh state govt is impervious to all demands of farmers.