West Bengal: 50,000 farmers to march to Kolkata on Wednesday

A huge two-day Kisan march will be kickstarted from Singur on Wednesday, in which farmers from all over the state will participate.

Known as ‘Singur to Raj Bhavan Abhijan’, organised by All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) and All India Agricultural Workers Union (AIAWU) and will start with 10,000 farmers in Singur, who will be joined by 40,000 others from various parts of the state, as they reach Kolkata.

Singur is the rural hamlet in West Bengal’s Hooghly district, more known for abandoned Tata’s Nano car project and where CM Mamata Banerjee’s movement started.

According to AIKS, the Kisan march will mainly highlight the prevailing crises of agrarian sector in West Bengal. The 10,000 farmers will be joined by 40,000 others from various parts of the state, who will also run campaigns and organise rallies on November 28 and 29. This ‘Singur to Raj Bhavan’ campaign is part of the all India ‘Kisan Mukti March’.

AIKS general secretary Hannan Mollah will inaugurate the march from Ratanpur in Singur on November 28.

The march has been organised to voice farmers’ demands, which include work for all, implementation of the recommendation of the Swaminathan Commission, all agricultural debt must be waived, to ensure 200 days of work and Rs 350 per day wage in MNREGA welfare scheme, all poor people above 60 years must be given a minimum of Rs 6,000 month pension, among other demands.

Left Front Chairman Biman Bose said, “This march is a programme of the Kisan wing, but CPI-M will support this programme.”

Altogether 37,000 farmers will cross the iconic Howrah Bridge and meet at a rally in Kolkata. Farmers from Nadia, South and North 24 Parganas, East and West Medinipur and other districts will come to Kolkata on November 29. CPI(M) State Secretary Dr Surjya Kanta Mishra, AIKS State Secretary Amal Halder, AIAWU State Secretary Amiya Patra and AIAWU State President Tushar Ghosh will address 50,000 farmers in Kolkata.

Amiya Patra said, “Bengal Chief Minister failed to address the farm crises and unemployment issue. This government neither succeeded in returning Singur land in cultivable condition to farmers, nor could they set up industry.”

Source: West Bengal: 50,000 farmers to march to Kolkata on Wednesday