Thousands march to Sansad Marg in protest

Farmers and agricultural labourers from across 24 states of India marched from Ramlila Maidan to the Parliament Street on Thursday demanding old age pension and hike in the amount under the Indira Awas Yojana.

Over fifteen thousand people, including a large number of women, from villages across the country thronged the streets of central Delhi around noon. The farmers and labourers under the banner of the All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) and the Bharatiya Khet Mazdoor Union (BKMU) have gathered in New Delhi to protest against the deteriorating living conditions in rural areas.

The farmers' major demands include a pension of Rs 3,000 to farmers, agricultural workers and rural artisans, a hike from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 3 lakh per unit under the Indira Awas Yojana, sufficient increase in
public investment in agriculture, scrapping of the Land Acquisition Act 1894, withdrawl of Special Economic Zones and full-year guarantee of work under the MGNREGS.

Addressing the gathering, senior CPI leader AB Bardhan said, "Even after 65 years of India's independence, the condition of farmers is pathetic. Over 2.5 lakh farmers have committed suicide in the last ten years."

Other leaders present included AIKS President Prabodh Panda, BKMU president KE Ismail, AIKS general secretary Atul Anjan and BKMU general secretary Nagendra Nath Ojha. They alleged that the
agriculture sector has been victim of a lot of governmental bias.

"In the tribal communities, 93 per cent of the population belongs to the rural areas. In most cases, they have not received benefits of the Forests Rights Act," said Ojha, adding, "They continue to be displaced
in the name of various development projects. Whenever they stand in protest, they are met with police atrocities."

Holding the neo-liberal policies of Congress president Sonia Gandhi and PM Manmohan Singh responsible for the poor state of farmers, Atul Anjan urged farmers to speak up and protest 'atrocities'.

"Villages are being uprooted, farming has become unprofitable and poor farmers are committing suicide. Farmers will have to be saved first if the nation is to be saved," he said. Anjan also sought a separate budget for agriculture.