We, from Ektha Parishad, have come to the capital with a few questions for the central government. Our arrival, by foot, is also a form of protest against the government for going back on its promises to us.
Including people from Kerala and 12 other states, 6,000 of us embarked on a journey by foot from Palvel in Haryana to Delhi in order to press our demands. We would extend our protest to a nation-wide stir if we do not receive answers to our queries and solutions to our problems. This would surely cascade into a big protest with people like Anna Hazare taking part in it.
We have four questions for the Centre.
1.In 2006, when we conducted a march to Delhi from Gwalior, the government promised that it would implement laws related to right to forests. What has happened to it?
2.The land reforms council has not started operating since it was commissioned under the PM in 2007, why?
3.Why did the government go back on its promise to provide houses for those who do not have a dwelling?
4.Why no efforts are not being taken to implement National Land Reform laws?
We are not to be satisfied with mere answers, but need sincere efforts from the government to solve problems. The policies of Narendra Modi are against farmers. While the government should impartially arbitrate in case there are conflicts between farmers and industrialists, the current policy of the government puts farmers at a disadvantage.
If needed, let industrialists lease land from farmers for say, 30 years; farmers would be only happy for it. By purchasing land at cheap rates from farmers and then selling it at a huge profit to industrialists, the land mafia stands to make a huge profit. While farmers do not get adequate compensation, they are also denied the only livelihood they have. The outside world does not even know that large tracts of forests are being usurped by the land mafia from forest dwellers. If farming lands become scarce, the nation would have to face severe food shortage in future.
Even though the Congress backs our intentions at the national level, will the party care to take measures in states where they rule? There are about 20 land-related campaigns in Kerala and the state needs to solve these amicably in order to become a model for the nation.
There is objection to the land ordinance within the BJP and even the RSS is opposed to the government’s move. We will hold an agitation at Jantar Mantar on the hope that the government would resolve our demands. Home Minister Rajnath Singh has promised us a solution. We are ready to cooperate if the government keeps its word. Else we will intensify our protests. We will involve people from all states and the protests would converge at Delhi. It would include people from all sections of the society and cause headaches for the government.
(The author is the founder of the Ektha Parishad and a Gandhian.)