Politics dilutes farmers’ agitation??
Sarthak Kanjilal
Port Blair, May 14: Nearly 122 tsunami affected farmers were picked up by Andaman and Nicobar Police after today’s rally and dharna, in which farmers demanded compensation for their tsunami inundated land, without surrendering their land to government.
The dharna and rally started today at 9.30 am in which nearly 200 tsunami affected farmers, headed by the lone Member of Parliament, Mr. Bishnu Pada Ray, marched towards Raj Niwas and demanded to meet the Lt. Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
However, because of disagreement over the number of members in the delegation of farmers, the meeting could not take place and considering the anger brewing among the farmers, the police picked up 94 male and 28 female farmers as preventive measure.
“We are ready to go to jail if our demands are not fulfilled. We will not surrender our land to government for compensation,” Rajesh Kumar Lall the General Secretary of Gram Vikas Samity told ‘Andaman Sheekha’ today.
All picked farmers were later brought to ITF Ground of Port Blair, where the Member of Parliament, Mr. B P Ray also accompanied them.
“We brought them here because we had information that some of them may indulge in unlawful activities. We spoke to their represented and persuaded them to take up their issues with concerned department. We have let them go at around 7.00 PM,” S B S Tyagi the Superintendent of Police, South Andaman told ‘Andaman Sheekha’ today.
This is second such rally of Tsunami affected farmers, earlier on 19 April 2012 nearly 200 farmers and the MP were picked up from Raj Niwas gate of A & N Islands.
Our Correspondent adds: Throughout today’s protest it appeared as if the rally was a warm up exercise of the Member of Parliament for coming 2014 elections than a struggle of tsunami affected farmers. The BJP party remained away from the rally, only a few low profile leaders supported the cause.
Here the congress party, like always remained detached from the farmers’ cause. There were reports that some congress grassroot leaders conducted door to door campaign last night to request there supporters to boycott the rally. It seems instead of helping, politics have diluted the tsunami affected farmers’ agitation.
Those poor farmers who expressed their faith on politicians today went back empty handed, even without a false assurance from the side of Administration.
