It's A Fight Till We Survive: Farmers

It's A Fight Till We Survive: Farmers

Chandigarh

February 21, 2009

"Living in British India under the rule of the Queen now appears to be better than the rule of this chaotic governance in India and Chandigarh in specific," this is how an eighty year old farmer of Sarangpur summarised the current governance. Protesting against the unfair, illegal and unjust policies of the Chandigarh Administration, nearly 7000 farmers of all villages and inhabitants of rural area participated in the protest rally.

The farmers expressed a lot of anger against SF Rodrigues, Administrator of Chandigarh and demanded that he be sacked and the position of Chief Commissioner be restored.

Terming it as a non-political citizens' movement, Panches and Sarpanches of the villages addressed the rally and called all people to rise to fight. "It's a situation of total failure of the government machinery and system. No body seems to care about the law and order. While we are expected to follow all the rules and law and order, but there appears to be no law for the high and the mighty. Inhabitants of rural area of Chandigarh have been abiding by the periphery control act for the last 50 years but now Administrator SF Rodrigues is himself getting property transferred to big companies in violation of Periphery control Act Shouldn't the law be one?" Questioned an aggrieved farmer.

The request of some political leaders, having alliance to political parties, to address the rally was declined. The rally remained a movement of villagers and people belonging to the middle class. "The near absolute turnout of all the Panches and Sarpanches show that the people have no faith in the political leadership and the common man is disillusioned by the political parties. We all are with Brig. Kahlon and Chandigarh Sanjha Morcha and will fight with them till the end." Sarpaches echoed in one voice.

Rally focused on the issue that there has to be no forcible land acquisition. Until and unless the farmers agree to the acquisition, he must not be divested of his land and whenever acquisition is done, the farmer should be paid the market price of land. The farmers mentioned that it was a difficult task to challenge the low price given by the Chandigarh Administration in courts too. "When a farmer goes to the Court against any acquisition in Chandigarh, he in a way has to pay all the compensation amount as court fee which was unfair. In Haryana and Punjab the court fee to challenge acquisition and ask for enhanced compensation requires just Rs 100 court fee." It was further mentioned.

Many Sarpanches demanded a share in the lease money which the Chandigarh Administration receives by leasing out the acquired land. "If the Chandigarh Administration is charging the lease amount on the land, why should the original owner of the land not have a share in it? In fact the farmers can directly lease their land for any kind of developmental activity and so there was no need whatsoever for forcible acquisition by the Chandigarh Administration." Angrez Singh, the veteran farmer leader emphasised.

Highlighting the importance of national Rehabilitation and Resettlement Policy 2007, Brig. Kahlon, president of Sanjha Morcha mentioned that the policy do provide some relief to the farmers however Chandigarh Administration was not uniformally allowing the policy. All the people whose land is under acquisition at any stage must be given benefit of the policy.

For the existing villages, the Sarpanches mentioned that lal-dora should be extended taking care of the growth of population of the villages; and all construction outside and inside the phirni must be immediately regularised.

"Panchayats are the first pillar of Democracy of India, however over a period of time, the Government in its greed for land does not even take the Panchayats into confidence before acquiring their lands. The Panchayats have to fight for restoration of this fundamental right of being involved in all developmental activities." Sh. Balwinder Singh, Sarpanch of Khuda Jasu mentioned.

"We will fight to protect all the religious places established in the villages and if anyone tries to raze any place of worship in any of the villages and/or rural area, we will fight until death." Naib Singh, Panch of Makhan Majra said.

Brig. K. S. Kahlon (Retd.) President of Chandigarh Sanjha Morcha declared that if all the resolutions and demands of the farmers were not accepted before the elections then a rapid action group shall be formed and such groups will fight to protect for their rights and defeat the nefarious design of the Administration. Kahlon exhorted the youth to maintain their enthusiasm and direct their anger to in the right direction to fight for protection of their rights.

The massive gathering was addressed among others by Sardar Sadhu Singh, Sardar Gurdial Singh, Sardar Harbhajan Singh of Dhanas, Sardar Naib Singh, ex-sarpanches of the villages Sarangpur, Khuda Alisher, Makhan Majra. Sarpanch and Panches of Khuda Lahora, Rakesh Sharma, Sital Singh, Avtar Singh of Khuda Jassu, Gurdip Singh, Sarpanch Raipur Kalan, HS Dhamija of Khajehri. Sukhjit Singh, ex-sarpanch of Hallomajra, Mohinder Singh, Sarpanch Behlana, Balbir & Narinder Singh of Kaimbwala. Many other prominent villagers and Panch from Kaimbwala, Darua, Mauli Jagran, Raipur Khurd, Maloya and Dhanas also interacted with the gathering

Besides the village leaders, Vikas Mahajan, President of Nursery association, HS Johal of Manimajra Farmers Association, Major RS Virk, Gen. Sec. of Pind Bachao Committee, Manpreet Sandhu, Gen. Sec. of Sanjha Morcha also actively participated in the rally and addressed the gathering.

ENDS

© Scoop Media