Vol. XLII No. 48 December 02, 2018
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Singur to Raj Bhaban March in Bengal

From our Special Correspondent

THOUSANDS of peasants and agricultural workers started a two day march on November 28 from Singur, demanding remunerative price for produces, work for all and industries in the state. The march began from Singur as the place had seen both the destruction of industry and agriculture. The march will reach near Raj Bhavan on November 29.

Addressing the gathering before the start of the march, AIKS general secretary Hannan Mollah said, a suicidal movement has forced the dismantling of a factory in Singur. After the order from the apex court, West Bengal state government has demolished the factory sheds. But still the peasants are not in a position to cultivate their lands. The chief minister spread some seeds here but no agricultural land has been really cultivated. The chief minister is lying that farmers have got back their lands and in Singur cultivation, is going on. The farmers of Singur have neither got industry nor land. They have lost everything. AIKS demands the state government to either build up industry here or implement the Supreme Court order in letter and spirit.

The march has raised the slogan of remunerative price for agricultural produces in the state. Mollah said, farmers are not getting due prices. In many parts of the state, they are forced to sell their produces at distress prices. In many parts, farmers have thrown away potatoes. Agriculture workers are suffering due to lack of work. Thousands have been forced to leave the state in search of work. Peasants’ movement has taken up the issue of agriculture workers. A new surge of joint movement has created new enthusiasm.

Mollah said, in West Bengal peasants have earned their rights through big struggles in the past. They will do it once again.

The march took a rest in Howrah-Hooghly district border at night. The marchers stayed at the houses of local people, most of them from middle classes.