Rally in Kolkata assails Central, State Governments anti-farmer policies
By ANIThursday, March 12, 2009
KOLKATA - Ahead of the general elections, hundreds of activists of farmers union affiliated to the Socialist Unity Centre of India (SUCI) staged demonstration here.
They held a massive rally to voice their anger at what they called the anti-farmer policies of both the Central and the State Governments. There was no mention in the rally of the many steps like loan waiver and the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) taken by the UPA Government.
Under the banner of All India Krishak Khet Mazdoor Samity, the rallyists converged at a public meeting where they sought fulfilment of the demands by the Government.
“Our purpose today is to voice our protest against the anti-farmers policies of the State as well Central Governments. Our demands are stop black marketing in fertilisers, give us fertilisers at MRP rates, introduce NREGS in its full,” said Sankar Ghosh, Vice President, All India Krishak Khet Mazdoor Samity of SUCI, Kolkata.
The protestors also demanded lowering of kerosene oil prices and proper implementation of the 100 days work scheme under the NREGS and the immediate release of the proper parameters of below poverty line (BPL) including the list of beneficiaries.
All India Krishak Khet Mazdoor Samity is the farmers’ wing of the SUCI.
