KATHERIA SUPPORTS GOKUL FARMERS

Mathura

 

Union minister of state for Human Resources Development Ram Shankar Katheria today met agitating farmers in Damodarpura of Mahavan tehsil to assure them of early action on their demands. He visited the district jail to meet those  arrested in the mayhem  November 1 that resulted in injuries to more than a dozen, torching of three buses, and FIR against 586 persons.

 

Katheria said he would ensure the farmers whose land had been acquired for the Gokul barrage 16 years ago, are paid compensation according to the newly enacted land acquisition Act. The agitating farmers want four times more compensation than has been agreed by the state government.

 

Katheria told TOI that he would take up the farmers' demands with the state government to resolve the impasse. Meanwhile, he told the district administration and the police officials that those who were not involved in the violence should be released on bail. Cases of others should also be inquired into so that the atmosphere of tension that has been building for some time could return to normalcy.

 

The farmers' agitation has snowballed into a major confrontation with the state government as all political parties including the Bahujan Samaj Party have lent support to it. The Rashtriya Lok Dal have also assured full support to the movement. The district authorities have had several rounds of talks at various levels with leaders of the agitation which the Bhartiya Janata Yuva Morcha was spearheading. The BJP now has ensured that the ruling party in the state is forced to accept all the demands of the farmers.

 

Meanwhile, there is no let up in tention in the Gokul rural hinterland which is  simmering with discontent and anger against the police and the district administration for delaying compensation for the land acquired for the Gokul barrage catchment area and the large-scale arrests of protesting farmers.

 

Leaders of the farmers said a large number of villagers were missing, as they have fled away due to fear of the police. They want the situation defused at the earliest and action initiated on their ten point demand charter. 

 

BJP leaders are strategising on ways to impart a fresh momentum to the farmers' movement for justice. The party's state leadership has criticised the Samajwadi Party government which has not been able to compensate farmers in 16 years.

 

Katheria did meet senior officials in the district but nothing concrete has so far emerged. The police seems in no mood to relent or ease pressure on the absconding villagers. Three FIRs have been filed against 586 persons. The search for those named has been intensified which has forced many to flee villages.