The BJP on Tuesday joined the ongoing agitation by Vayalkilikal (Farm Birds), a forum of rice farmers of Keezhattur near Thalipparamba in Kerala’s Kannur district against the CPI(M)-led lDF Government’s decision to acquire several hectares of ecologically sensitive paddy farmland for construction of a national highway bypass by taking out a 21-kilometer Karshaka Raksha March (Save-Farmers March).
“It was the Nandigram struggle which had led to the CPI(M)’s ouster from West Bengal. In Tripura, it was ousted through democratic process. The CPI(M) will be taking its last breaths in Kerala at Keezhattur,” BJP’s national secretary Rahul Sinha, a frontline warrior of the Nandigram stir, said while inaugurating the foot march at the Keezhattur rice field.
The BJP march from Thalipparamba to Kannur, captained by national executive member PK Krishnadas, took place just when the CPI(M) has been on a campaign accusing the Sangh Pariwar of hijacking the stir of the farmers, all of whom had so far been active Marxist party workers. Keezhattur is known as a ‘party village’ under the CPI(M)’s absolute control.
“I had come to Kannur eight years ago when the struggle was going on in Nandigram. I had come here then to visit the homes of the BJP-RSS workers who had been victims of CPI(M) violence. On this trip, I have brought to Kannur the soil of Nandigram which had triggered the decimation of the CPI(M) in West Bengal,” Sinha said.
The BJP leaders showered respects on Nambradath Janaki Amma, the elderly woman leader of the stir, and Suresh Keezhattur, the face of the farmers’ protest who claims to be a Marxist still, at the public meeting held as part of the inauguration of the march. Senior State BJP leaders like AN Radhakrishnan and CK Padmanabhan took part in the programme.
“At this sacred land of Keezhattur, the BJP is taking the pledge not to allow acquisition of even an inch of farm land to satisfy the CPI(M)’s thirst for corruption,” Sinha said alleging that the Marxists were firm on constructing the bypass through the paddy land itself because their eyes were riveted on possibilities of corruption to the tune of Rs 300 crore in the project.
According to the BJP, the CPI(M) is firm about constructing the bypass through the paddy land itself as there are chances for corruption in removing clay from the field and filling it with soil brought from outside. It is also accused of a bid to protect the interests of traders and other rich people who may lose land and buildings if the alignment is shifted to Thalipparamba town.
“The other parties like the Congress had declared solidarity with the farmers’ stir after the BJP joined their struggle. It is entirely possible that these parties may abandon their role in the struggle midway. But the BJP will stand by the farmers till they achieve their goal,” the BJP leader said.
Rahul Sinha and Janaki Amma jointly showered the soil the former had brought from Nandigram over the paddy land of Keezhattur in an act symbolizing similarities between the two land-related struggles. Farmers’ leader Suresh Keezhattur led the BJP workers and others in taking the pledge to protect the paddy land at any cost.