Gadchiroli May 19 (District Correspondent) The farmers and villagers from Guruwada, Hirapur, Shirpur, Rakhi, Chandala, Jambhali, and other villages in Gadchiroli Taluka staged intensive dharna in front of the collectorate here on Monday to protest against the acquisition of their fertile agricultural land for the airport.
Gadchiroli District Congress Committee had taken an initiative in organizing this dharna under the leadership of District chief Mahendra Brahmanwade.
The furious farmers who had assembled in thousands at the collectorate despite scorching heat strongly demanded that their lands not be acquired and warned to intensify the agitation if the government goes ahead with the proposal of the airport.
Gadchiroli Chimur Lok Sabha MP Dr. Namdeo Kirsan met the agitating farmers and assured them to convey their feelings to the government. He also declared his full support to the farmers agitation saying in no any condition, the agricultural land be acquired for the airport or any other industrial activity.
The leaders of various political parties including Mr. Mahendra Bramhanwade of the Congress party, Hansraj Undirwade of the All-India Republican Party, Bhashkar Meshram of the BSP, Iliyas Khan of the Samajwadi Party, Amol Marakwar of the CPM, Manohar Poretti, former ZP vice president, Satish Vidhate of the Congress, Raj Bansod of ASP also extended their support to the farmers agitation.
The Sarpanchas, Dy. Sarpanchas of the various village panchayats also had participated in the dharna. Prominently among them were Shalini Kumre, Diwakar nisar, Dewlata kosankar, Pradeep Usendi, Purushottam Bawne, Swati Meshram, Jyotika Talande, Kunda Juware, Anil Kothare and many others.
A large number of farmers and villagers assembled in front of the collectorate and shouted slogans in support of their demand. The women’s participant was more and some women had participated in the agitation along with their kids to protest the government move.
Despite repeated opposition from farmers in the district, the government is continuing the process of acquiring their fertile agricultural lands for the airport and various projects. Recently, a preliminary survey for a proposed airport was forcibly conducted and the funds were also declared for the purpose, that led to the anger of the farmers.
‘The soil is our mother, and we shall fight to our very last breath to protect her,’ was the unified resolve expressed by the farmers during this sit-in protest. Brahmanwade clearly stated that if the government fails to give serious consideration to the farmers’ issues, a Thiyya Andolan will be staged in front of the District Collector’s office on June 4th.
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