Agitating farmers hit road in protest
Sarthak Kanjilal and DJ Venkatesh
Port Blair, Apr 19: Nearly one hundred and fifty tsunami affected farmers alongwith the lone Member of Parliament of A&N Islands, Mr Bishnu Pada Ray were detained today while they were trying to enter Raj Niwas forcefully to meet the Lt. Governor with their demands of tsunami compensation.
Tsunami affected farmers today blocked roads in front of Secretariat and Raj Niwas of Andaman and Nicobar Islands demanding immediate release of Tsunami Compensation amount for their submerged land.
Late afternoon, when agitating farmers were not allowed to meet the Lieutenant Governor of A&N Islands the farmers led by the Member of Parliament tried to enter Raj Niwas forcefully, resulting in their arrest.
“We had intimated the Administration about our dharna on 12th of April, but the Administration failed to respond to our demands. We demand immediate release of the compensation, promised by the Home Minister P Chidambaram or a time-bound written assurance from the Administration,” A P Mohammed, President, Gram Sudhar Sangham (GSS) told ‘Andaman Sheekha’ today.
In 2004 Tsunami, the seawater submerged 343.80 hectares of land in Port Blair tehsil affecting 321 families and 1149.89 hectares of land in Ferrar Gunj tehsil remains submerged.
“We have been informed by the Administration that Rs 130 crores sanctioned for tsunami affected farmers have been diverted for other purposes by the Administration, which is very unfortunate,” Bishnu Pada Ray, MP told ‘Andaman Sheekha’.
However, Police officials refused to comment on this issue.
Later at around 7.45 pm the Deputy Commissioner of South Andaman, Rupesh Kumar Thakur, IAS, met the agitating farmers and Member of Parliament and conveyed that tomorrow Chief Secretary of A & N Administration will meet Secretary Finance (Government of India) at New Delhi. The DC said that the Chief Secretary will return Port Blair on Sunday and on Monday evening at 3.00 pm there will be a meeting with representatives of agitating farmers and the Member of Parliament. “During the meeting time frame for release of compensation will be finalised,” the DC assured.
Later Andaman and Nicobar Police provided IRBn Buses to drop agitating farmers.
“It is still now clear, whether they had arrested us or detained us as we were released without any bail or bond. However, when they brought us to PS Aberdeen they had said that they are arresting us,” an agitating farmer said.
