Leaders "ignoring" tribal, Dalit, other marginal farmers' cause in fight against land acquisition ordinance

Ashok Shrimali with Achyut Yagnik

By Our Representative
A senior activist of Gujarat, Ashok Shrimali, has created a stir in a closed-door Gujarat farmer leaders' consultation in Ahmedabad at Khet Bhawan, next to Gandhi Ashram, saying that tribal, Dalit and other marginalised community farmers' plight was being "summarily ignored" by those seeking to fight against the "retrograde" land acquisition ordinance. Shrimali said, this is happening despite the fact that they know it is these farmers who will suffer the most because of the recent Government of India ordinance, which has done away with social impact assessment and consent clauses.
"This is more true of Gujarat than other states", the senior activist, who is with Setu Centre for Social Action and Knowledge, headed by well-known veteran activist-academic Achyut Yagnik, said. "See how farmers' organizations are taking up the marginalized communities' interests elsewhere. Only recently, in Sundargarh in Odisha, the tribal farmers held a strong agitation blockading Rourkela, which houses the steel plant, after the state government declared its intention to acquire their land for larger urban area."
Shrimali further said, "There are tribal farmers' organizations in Gujarat, who are actually leading a tough fight for their cause. One of them is Adivasi Kisan Sangharsh Morcha, led by Romel Sutariya, and another is Adivasi Ekta Parishad led by Ashok Chowdhury. Both are based in South Gujarat. But I don't see any of them here, though they are quite strong in their areas." He added, "Unfortunately, in Gujarat's farmers' fights, only well-to-do farmers' interests are being guarded."
While the senior activist's view was strongly supported by veteran economist Prof Rohit Shukla, called at the consultation as a resource person, it came against the backdrop of Aam Admi Party (AAP) leader and ex-BJP MLA Kanubhai Kalsaria's proposal that farmers across India should celebrate Holi this time by “burning copies of the land acquisition ordinance”. The proposal was immediately accepted as an important step against the Government of India's latest "development" agenda. In all, 50-odd farmer leaders, activists and activists participated at the consultation.
Speaking at the consultation, giving a background of how the ordinance would affect the rural people, farmer leader Sagar Rabari pointing towards the "dangers ahead", saying, “Industrial corridors across India are being thrown open for land acquisition. In Gujarat, according to our calculation, more than 60 per cent of the area would be covered under the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor, which would be declared open for land acquisition without people's consent and social impact assessment.”

Aruna Roy

Protest rally in Delhi

Meanwhile, several people's organizations from across India took out what they called a “citizens' march for peace, justice and democracy” in Delhi, “pledging” to struggle against the recent “attack” on Gandhi’s values, even as highlighting how the latest land acquisition ordinance would undermine people's rights. A National Alliance of People's Movement (NAPM) statement, issued after the march, said, it was meant to “remind the present political regime how the actions taken by them in the name of ‘development’ are murdering Gandhi’s ideals of truth, peace, justice and democracy.”
Those who participated included former National Advisory Council member Aruna Roy, Narmada Bachao Andolan leader Medha Patkar, and well-known academic and Aam Admi Party leader Yogendra Yadav. The NAPM said, “On one hand, majoritarian politics of hate and intolerance is increasing communal divide in the country, and on the other, the neo-liberal economic agenda and corporate loot are snatching away hard earned laws, rights and precious resources from the people.”
It added, “One after the other, ordinances are being passed without any space for dialogue, debate and dissent, undermining not just Parliament but also the constitutional and democratic spirit of this country.” The march started at the Shaheed Bhagat Singh statue and ended at Rajghat.
Speaking on the occasiion, Aruna Roy said, the real freedom for the poor and the marginalized in this country has been undermined. “On one hand Prime Minister Narendra Modi wears a suit worth Rs 10 lakh, and on the other, there is omission of words ‘socialist’ and ‘secular’ in the Republic Day advertisement.”
Yogendra Yadav said, “The very soul of Gandhi, secularism, is now being attacked and we must resist that.”
Medha Patkar pointed out how Gandhi's dream of an India “where villages and communities would survive and thrive and live together in harmony” was being ignored, adding, instead, "politics of hate and fundamentalism” was being promoted. At the same time, there is “wholesale transfer of land, water, forests and minerals to corporations through a slew of ordinances.”

Comments

Adani coalmine delayed? Australian senate fails to pass crucial "reform" amendment for project's financial closure

Adanis' Mundra power plant, controversial in Australia By A Representative In what is being described as a new “new hurdle”, the proposed Adani coalmine in the Queensland state of in Australia failed to get the crucial Australian Parliamentary nod, essential for financial closure for one of the biggest coalmining projects in the world. The government lost the Senate vote 35-33, meaning the legislation won't pass until the Senate returns in mid-June.

Aurangzeb’s last will recorded by his Maulvi: Allah shouldn't make anyone emperor

By Mohan Guruswamy Aurangzeb’s grave is a simple slab open to the sky lying along the roadside at Khuldabad near Aurangabad. I once stopped by to marvel at the tomb of an Emperor of India whose empire was as large as Ashoka the Great's. It was only post 1857 when Victoria's domain exceeded this. The epitaph reads: "Az tila o nuqreh gar saazand gumbad aghniyaa! Bar mazaar e ghareebaan gumbad e gardun bas ast." (The rich may well construct domes of gold and silver on their graves. For the poor folks like me, the sky is enough to shelter my grave) The modest tomb of Aurangzeb is perhaps the least recognised legacies of the Mughal Emperor who ruled the land for fifty eventful years. He was not a builder having expended his long tenure in war and conquest. Towards the end of his reign and life, he realised the futility of it all. He wrote: "Allah should not make anyone an emperor. The most unfortunate person is he who becomes one." Aurangzeb’s last will was re...

Beyond his riding skill, Karl Umrigar was admired for his radiance, sportsmanship, and affability

By Harsh Thakor* Karl Umrigar's name remains etched in the annals of Indian horse racing, a testament to a talent tragically cut short. An accident on the racetrack at the tender age of nineteen robbed India of a rider on the cusp of greatness. Had he survived, there's little doubt he would have ascended to international stature, possibly becoming the greatest Indian jockey ever. Even 46 years after his death, his name shines brightly, reminiscent of an inextinguishable star. His cousin, Pesi Shroff, himself blossomed into one of the most celebrated jockeys in Indian horse racing.

Haven't done a good deed, inner soul is cursing me as sinner: Aurangzeb's last 'will'

Counterview Desk The Tomb of Aurangzeb, the last of the strong Mughal emperors, located in Khuldabad, Aurangabad district, Maharashtra, has this epitaph inscribed on it: "Az tila o nuqreh gar saazand gumbad aghniyaa! Bar mazaar e maa ghareebaan gumbad e gardun bas ast" (the rich may well construct domes of gold and silver on their graves. For the poor folks like me, the sky is enough to shelter my grave).

Trust, we (from People to PM and President) did not take a Holy Dip in some Holy Shit!

By Dr Mansee Bal Bhargava I could see two deeply interlinked aspects between human and water in #MahaKumbh2025. Firstly, the HOPE that a ‘holy dip’ in the River Ganga (colloquially referred as dubki and spiritually as ‘Snan’) will cleanse oneself (especially the sins); and secondly, the TRUST that the water is pure to perform the cleansing alias living the hope. Well, I consider hope to be self-dependent while, trust is a multi-party dependent situation. The focus here is on the trust and I shall write later on hope.

Hyderabad seminar rekindles memories of the spark lit 50 years ago by students

By Harsh Thakor* History is something we constantly remember and reflect upon, but certain moments and events bring it back to our memory in a special way. For the Telugu people, and Telangana in particular, the memorial seminar held on February 20–21 was a significant occasion to recall the glorious events, transformations, leaders, and heroes of past struggles. Thousands of students rewrote the history of people's movements in Andhra Pradesh, carrying revolutionary zeal and the spirit of self-sacrifice to levels comparable to the Russian and Chinese Revolutions.

Vadodara citizens urge authorities to adhere to environmental mandates in Vishwamitri River Rejuvenation Project

By A Representative A coalition of environmental activists, ecologists, and urban planners in Vadodara has issued an urgent appeal to state and municipal authorities, demanding strict compliance with court-mandated guidelines for the upcoming Vishwamitri River rejuvenation project. Scheduled to commence in March 2025, the initiative aims to mitigate flooding and restore the river, but citizens warn that current plans risk violating National Green Tribunal (NGT) orders and jeopardizing the river’s fragile ecosystem, home to endangered species like crocodiles and Indian Softshell Turtles.

Buddhist communities in Michigan protest for Mahabodhi Temple’s return to Buddhist control

By A Representative Buddhist communities in Michigan have staged protests demanding the return of the Mahabodhi Vihara in Gaya, Bihar, India, to full Buddhist control. The Mahabodhi Temple, regarded as the holiest pilgrimage site in Buddhism, is currently managed under the Bodhgaya Temple Act of 1949, which grants a majority of control to non-Buddhists.

How the slogan Jai Bhim gained momentum as movement of popularity and revolution

By Dr Kapilendra Das* India is an incomprehensible plural country loaded with diversities of religions, castes, cultures, languages, dialects, tribes, societies, costumes, etc. The Indians have good manners/etiquette (decent social conduct, gesture, courtesy, politeness) that build healthy relationships and take them ahead to life. In many parts of India, in many situations, and on formal occasions, it is common for people of India to express and exchange respect, greetings, and salutation for which we people usually use words and phrases like- Namaskar, Namaste, Pranam, Ram Ram, Jai Ram ji, Jai Sriram, Good morning, shubha sakal, Radhe Radhe, Jai Bajarangabali, Jai Gopal, Jai Jai, Supravat, Good night, Shuvaratri, Jai Bhole, Salaam walekam, Walekam salaam, Radhaswami, Namo Buddhaya, Jai Bhim, Hello, and so on. A soft attitude always creates strong relationships. A relationship should not depend only on spoken words. They should rely on understanding the unspoken feeling too. So w...

A Communist leader, an advocate for unity, against opportunism and sectarianism

By Harsh Thakor* Dhurva Narayan, a prominent leader from Bihar and a Central Committee member of the former PCC, CPI (ML) as well as the newly merged CPI (ML)-MassLine, passed away on February 12, 2025. He was an influential figure in the Indian Communist revolutionary movement for over five decades, known for his role in opposing Hindutva politics and globalization. Narayan was committed to fostering unity within Communist ranks and advocating against opportunism and sectarianism.

Search This Blog