On October 12-13th in Azamgarh in Uttar Pradesh, an unwarranted attack was launched on the farmers land, led by the SDM, Teshildar,.Provincial armed Constabulary and the police, without declaring any notice in Jamua Hariram village .The purpose was to obtain land for the installation of a new International airport. The action was part and parcel of an overall strategy to grab land to serve the Corporate classes.Samyukta Kisan Morcha constituents ,Kisan Sangram Samiti, Rihai Manch,,Jan Mukti Morcha,,Akhil Bharti Kisan Mahasabha ,Sanyukt Kisan-Mazdur Sangh, ,Jai Kisan Andolan were participants in a united resistance to seek justice.-organising solidarity.
When the farmers retaliated in self-defence the police deployed lathi charge, severely injuring 2 women. (Sunita and Savitri)and 2 men (Kapil and Sanjiv Jadhav).In Gadanpur village as a result of tension Lalllan Ram succumbed and so did Jawahir Yadav of Jigni village. Protesting on small scale villagers lodged a dharna.
In a high school in Azamgarh from 3-5 0clock a meeting was held by the organizations, explaining how the corporates objective was to seize lands to construct an airport, which was part and parcel of their strategy to establish complete monopoly. in every walk of life. Land was leased out to coporates on a platter. They elaborated that a similar path would be chalked out in the case of the railways, mines etc.Speakers summed up how pro-globalisation policies denied fair remunerative prices, affordable seeds, land to cultivate for self sustenance and incurred huge debts.They also touched on the deployment of the bulldozer to raze Muslim houses to the ground. In the view of the organizers, the labour of the peasants and workers was bought at the cheapest price, reducing them to mere commodity.
Impressive the manner the opressed farmers, particularly women displayed relentless spirit, in withstanding the tyrants, staging a most qualitative protest A genuine polarisation is being crystallised to challenge anti-people forces. Many at grassroots are integrating with work of the Farmers front.
The Samyukta Kisan Morcha has planned to stage a central dharna on October 22nd at Azamgarh, to combat the nefarious attacks on land rights and assault on activists. It pledged slogans of “Never surrendering land at any costs,” Land is yours and mine-not of anyone’ fathers.”It would also address the topic of Jal,Jangal and Zameen,which was being robbed from Adivasis in Chattisgarh and Jharkhand and relate it with land issues in regions like Balia,Kaymaur,Chandoli and Azamgarh in Utttar Pradesh. The organisers stated that it was imperative to unite all sections of society, eradicating divisions of caste, religion etc.
Prominent activists involved were Dr.Ravindranath Rai, Jayprakash Narayan ,Rajeev Yadav, Rahul Vidhyarti, Munna Lal, Sunita,Sumitra,Dukharan Ram, Vinod Yadav, AvdeshYadav, Pramod, Asish Upadhaya,Ambika Patel, Komal Maurya and Radheshyam.
Harsh Thakor is a freelance journalist who has covered mass movements around India
