As the organisers of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s World Cultural Festival 2016 are girding up for the three- day mega-show event by spending crores, around 80 farmers - who claim their land on the Yamuna floodplains was flattened for the event - have gone on a hunger strike opposite the Mayur Vihar Extension metro station in the Capital, demanding compensation.
They alleged that their farmhand has been leveled for parking and other purposes. Nearly 100 acre of agricultural land where vegetables, fruits, flowers and plants are grown in Chilla, Nangli and Sarai Kale Khan along the DND flyover, and some UP Canal and DDA (Delhi Development Authority) property on the Noida Road side have been cleared, claimed farmers.
“It brings tears to my eyes to see so much money being put into an event. A lot of money was spent into making pontoon bridges. But see we have not been given any compensation for our land. I plant peas, coriander and many other vegetable on it and I don’t know how I will feed my children. I have a family of four to run. Even if I commit suicide tomorrow there is no one to look after them,” said Bandheri lal, a 50-year-old farmer.
lal is among hundreds of other families who have been hit hard as preparation for the event progresses. “We don’t know what to do. Even if we raise our voice, we will be shut up. We are weak and we don’t have a voice,” he said teary-eyed.
Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit has joined farmers’ protest against the event.
Bhim Singh, who is among the protesters, said the authorities abruptly came and cleaned our land. Roop lal said that though the step has been taken for just three days, it will take a long period for the farmers to get it back to the square
one. “We will have to work day and night for this now. There is no compensation given to us,” lal said.
Officials in the DDA have also alleged that the event organisers have grabbed more land space that was given to them. “Around 60 hectares of vacant land was permitted but they have spread their wings to 200 hectares. This is a violation of rules,” he said.