April 12, 2015
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Anti-Peasant, Anti-People Land Ordinance Burnt Across the Country

IN a fitting rebuff to the Narendra Modi led BJP government, lakhs of peasants, agricultural workers, adivasis and toiling people burnt copies of the draconian Land Acquisition Ordinance across the country on April 6. In Delhi, copies of the Land Acquisition Ordinance were burnt under the banner of the Bhoomi Adhikar Andolan with All India Kisan Sabha, All India Agricultural Workers’ Union, National Alliance of People’s Movement, Delhi Solidarity Group, All India Union of Forest Working People, INSAF, AIPF, Yuva Kranti and many other organisations taking part. The protest was addressed by Vijoo Krishnan, joint secretary, AIKS, Suneet Chopra, joint secretary, AIAWU, Vandana Shiva, noted environmentalist, Madhuresh, NAPM, ND Pancholi, Kavita Krishnan, AIPF, Amit, Adivasi Mukti Andolan, Pratap, Yuva Kranti and Rajneesh, AIUFWP. Thirunavakkarasu, president, AIAWU was also present. Speakers exposed the lies of the BJP Government and Prime Minister Modi and warned that the united movement against the Land Ordinance would be further intensified in coming days. Copies of the ordinance have been burnt widely in Assam, Odisha, Rajasthan, Haryana, Bengal and Tripura according to reports that have reached us while going to print. In Burdwan, West Bengal after a massive rally attended by thousands, the ordinance was burnt by the protestors. Addressing the protest Madan Ghosh, president of Paschim Banga Krishak Sabha said that under the BJP government “Achhe Din” were only for corporates and land mafia and the Land Ordinance will only facilitate corporate loot at the expense of the peasantry, agricultural workers, adivasis and the poor. Ordinance copies were burnt at many places in Howrah, Hooghly, Bankura etc. At Uluberia in Howrah district, the ordinance was burnt in the presence of hundreds of peasants, share-croppers and agricultural workers. Hannan Mollah, general secretary, AIKS addressed the protest and said that an unprecedented issue-based unity has been built against indiscriminate land acquisition and for the protection of land rights. He said the Kisan Sabha along with the AIAWU, Adivasi Adhikar Rashtriya Manch and many other organisations will go to every village to organise resistance against this draconian ordinance. In Tripura, protests and burning of the ordinance was held across the state in most villages and about a lakh people participated. Haryana witnessed widespread action and reports have been received of protests in Sirsa, Hisar, Rohtak and other places. In some areas, the ordinance was burnt on April 5 itself. In Rajasthan, the Land Ordinance was burnt in many places including Jaipur. In Jaipur the protest was addressed by Amra Ram, president, AIKS. He charged that the Modi government’s pro-corporate policies were being pursued even more vigorously by the Vasundhara Raje led BJP government in the state. He warned that the government will have to face the anger of the peasantry and wave of protests will continue till the ordinance was scrapped. In Assam, reports of protests and burning of the ordinance has been received from Sonitpur, Silchar, Balipara and Guwahati. In Odisha, the ordinance was burnt at Bhubaneswar according to reports that just came in. In Uttar Pradesh, protests were held across the state. In Bihar, protests were held in around 28 districts. In Patna, a united protest was held. Protests have been reported from seven districts in Jharkhand. Himachal Pradesh Kisan Sabha is organising a massive rally on April 7, 2015 at Shimla. Protest actions have taken place across the country jointly by AIKS, AIAWU and Adivasi Adhikar Rashtriya Manch as well as under the banner of Bhoomi Adhikar Andolan involving other organisations of the peasantry, agricultural workers, adivasis and toiling people. Protests in other states will be held in the coming days. Reports are awaited from few other states.