The Chhattisgarh unit of ‘Bharatiya Kisan Sangh’ (BKS) will launch a week-long agitation to mount pressure on the State Government in support of their charter of demands including that of making a provision to purchase every single grain of paddy from the local farmers on the minimum support price (MSP) of Rs2100 per quintal.
“Besides, the Association has decided to stage ‘Chakka Jam’ at the development block level in every district on December 1 if the government fails to consider our demands”, said the BKS Chhattisgarh Unit President, Narayan Prasad Gabel in a press conference held on Friday.
Thousands of farmers had participated in a demonstration staged against the paddy procurement policy on October 8. A delegation of the Association office-bearers had also met Chief Minister Raman Singh on November 15 to apprise him about our demands but to no avail, he added.
Gabel sought maximum participation of the farmers to raise the issues during the protest. Admitting factions among different farmers’ associations working in the State, Gabel said “We have been participating and supporting other Farmers’ Associations on various issues but they always showed demeaning attitude towards our leaders in public forums.” Notably, many farmers’ associations are active in the State and are claiming to have been working for the farmers’ welfare.
However, when it comes to uniting on a single platform, less coordination and unsupportive attitude was seen among them even to raise common issues including that of paddy procurement policy, minimum support price of paddy, crop’s insurance and fair compensation in land acquisition process in the recent past, he said.Gabel however invited all the farmers’ associations to unite during the demonstration to get justice to the farmers.