Raipur: On the lines of the farmers’ movement in Delhi, now the movement has started in Chhattisgarh as well. Hundreds of farmers affected in Nava Raipur have camped on the road in the bitter cold. Their demand is that the farmers, whose land has been acquired for the construction of Naya Raipur, should be given the remaining compensation. The promise made by the government at the time of acquisition should be fulfilled. The amount received by the farmers every year has not been paid for the last three years, it should be done immediately.
Many social organizations are also joining the strike in support of the farmers of Naya Raipur. Roopan Chandrakar, president of the new capital affected farmers welfare committee, said that 12 rounds of discussions have been held with the then BJP and the present Congress government of Chhattisgarh in relation to the demands and decisions have been taken in favour of the farmers, but they have to be followed. Chandrakar said that the administration is pressurizing to end the dharna by citing Section 144. In the night, the police officers had arrived with a team force. But the agitators said that if the rule is being violated, then put everyone in jail.
On January 3, thousands of farmers and villagers of the capital-affected villages had organized a movement for their pending demands. Chhattisgarh Kisan Mazdoor Mahasangh’s board member Tejram Vidrohi said that before the assembly elections, Congress had promised that compensation and rehabilitation package would be considered after the formation of the government, but till now it has not been done. Alok Shukla, convener of Chhattisgarh Bachao Andolan, said that a 1200 square feet plot should be given to all farmers under the rehabilitation package 2013. The ban on purchase and sale of land from the year 2005 should be removed immediately. Government spokesperson and Minister Ravindra Choubey said that the matter would be resolved after talking to the affected farmers. All the demands of the farmers will be considered sympathetically. The problem will be resolved soon.