Demanding to cancel land acquisition bill 2015, national general secretary of Akhil Bhartiya Kisan Sabha (ABKS), Atul Kumar Anjan announced that ABKS along with a different forums fighting for farmers cause will launch a Janjagran fortnight (mass awareness) drive across the state between August 15 and August 30. He said the workers and leaders will stage protest at all the district headquarters on September 1.
Anjan said the ABKS will press to implement the 15 point agenda that included implementation of Swaminathan Commission report, 50 per cent profit guarantee to farmers on investment in agricultural production, a pension of Rs 3000 to each farmer (male and female) and each artisan (male and female) of age 60 year or above, a guarantee of 200 days work to MANREGA workers with a wage of Rs 300 per day and minimum compensation of Rs 10 lakh to each family of the farmers who committed suicide. The leader also announced that the workers will block the roads and trains to register their protest on September 1.
He criticized the Narendra Modi led central government saying the prime minister was doing foreign tours but there was no outcome of these visits. “The PM toured 27 countries as of now but not a single penny was gained from these visits. There were only negotiations from different countries. The data being presented by the BJP is misleading and day-dreaming for the public. The promises made by the PM had proved to be Jam Tomorrow for the public of the country,’ he said.
He held forth the interaction session with the mediamen by speaking on foreign policy, economic condition and faulty process of economy that had caused the farmers, workers and artisans to suffer. He said unorganized sector was in a highly pitiable state. ‘There was only some percent of total population of out country that are in organized sector and they get dearness allowances and other benefits. But the farmers did not get the same. The tomato which was being sold at a rate of Rs 50 in the market is purchased at a rate of Rs 7 or Rs 8 from the farmers. “Where the all money is going and who is accountable for the social economic disparity,” he questioned.
He presented a brief detail of poverty that had enveloped the masses in the country saying several crore people sleep without dinner or without proper food each day. Avoiding the queries on caste based census, Anjan said the PM should develop a mechanism so that the hindrances caused by faulty policy be amended.
He taunted at BJP saying the Kargil war took place when Atal Bihari Bajpai was prime minister and Gurudaspur attack took place when Narendra Modi is prime minister. “Why the wars or attacks took place in the BJP led government only. Had the attacks be happened in Congress or other parties the BJP would have protested the policy of that government to the hilt,” he said.
He also criticized the Samajwadi Party ruled UP government and demanded to set up more power stations and cold storage/warehouses for benefiting the farmers. He had praise for Madhya Pradesh government when he said the state had better electric supply than UP.