Mahesh Kumar
Thousands of farmers gathered at Zero point, Noida, on Wednesday (December 4) to hold a massive Mahapanchayat, defying a government crackdown just a day earlier.
The protest, led by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) and the All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS), witnessed renewed determination as farmers demanded fair compensation for their acquired lands and proper rehabilitation measures.
On Tuesday, Uttar Pradesh security forces arrested over 160 protesting farmers and leaders, violating an agreement reached with the administration a day earlier. The arrests, aimed at dismantling the farmers' sit-in near a key expressway to Delhi, sparked widespread outrage.
In response, thousands of farmers, including a significant number of women, mobilized to protest at the site. Their resilience forced the Yogi Adityanath-led BJP government to release all detained individuals unconditionally, including Rupesh Verma, the militant young leader from the AIKS.
Upon his release, Rupesh Verma delivered a defiant speech, reaffirming the farmers' commitment to their cause.
"The government of Uttar Pradesh must understand this clearly, no matter how much you try to suppress our right to protest, this country belongs to the revolutionaries of 1857. We will not bow to rhetoric, pressure, or fear. We are mentally prepared. If we must go to jail, so be it. We are ready for whatever comes our way," he said.
He stressed on the farmers' commitment to their demands, declaring, "We will return home only when the government agrees to provide 10% (developed plots)."
Taking aim at Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Verma asserted, "Protest is our constitutional right, and we were demonstrating on the land of Babasaheb Ambedkar. Listen carefully, Yogi Ji: this country does not belong to any one individual—it belongs to us, the farmers. If you attempt to suppress this right, the farmers of this nation will rise against you."
Verma's fiery speech highlighted the farmers' unwavering resolve to defend their rights and press for their demands.
Wednesday’s Mahapanchayat saw speeches from AIKS leaders Vijoo Krishnan, Hannan Mollah, AIKS, Finance Secretary P Krishnaprasad, Central Kisan Committee (CKC) members Manoj Kumar, Nidheesh Villatt, and others.
However, Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait was barred by police from joining the protest.
The protests stem from long-standing grievances over land acquisition policies. Farmers are demanding the implementation of the 2013 Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation, and Resettlement Act (LARR Act).
The LARR Act replaced a colonial-era law and promised better compensation and rehabilitation measures. However, successive governments, particularly the BJP, have been accused of undermining the law to facilitate corporate development. Farmers allege that their lands were forcibly acquired under the outdated colonial law, leaving them inadequately compensated and without viable livelihoods.
Their other demands include 10% of developed plots as compensation for their acquired lands, proper rehabilitation for displaced families, employment opportunities for affected farmers and a legally binding Minimum Support Price (MSP) for crops.
On Monday, thousands of farmers marched towards Delhi from various villages and towns surrounding the capital. Despite facing barricades and police action, they pressed forward, converting the march into a sit-in at the border when negotiations were initially promised.
The current agitation follows decades of protests led by AIKS and other organizations advocating for farmers' rights. NOIDA's expansion over the years has displaced countless farmers, many of whom now struggle to survive.
While promises of land redistribution and rehabilitation were made, they remain unfulfilled, forcing farmers to continue their fight.
The farmers’ movement, which gained momentum during the 2020-21 protests against the BJP’s controversial farm laws, is now focused on securing justice for landowners and safeguarding their livelihoods.
As the protests continue, the farmers remain resolute in their struggle for justice, asserting that their voices cannot be silenced, and their rights cannot be ignored.
The protest, led by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) and the All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS), witnessed renewed determination as farmers demanded fair compensation for their acquired lands and proper rehabilitation measures.
On Tuesday, Uttar Pradesh security forces arrested over 160 protesting farmers and leaders, violating an agreement reached with the administration a day earlier. The arrests, aimed at dismantling the farmers' sit-in near a key expressway to Delhi, sparked widespread outrage.
In response, thousands of farmers, including a significant number of women, mobilized to protest at the site. Their resilience forced the Yogi Adityanath-led BJP government to release all detained individuals unconditionally, including Rupesh Verma, the militant young leader from the AIKS.
Upon his release, Rupesh Verma delivered a defiant speech, reaffirming the farmers' commitment to their cause.
"The government of Uttar Pradesh must understand this clearly, no matter how much you try to suppress our right to protest, this country belongs to the revolutionaries of 1857. We will not bow to rhetoric, pressure, or fear. We are mentally prepared. If we must go to jail, so be it. We are ready for whatever comes our way," he said.
He stressed on the farmers' commitment to their demands, declaring, "We will return home only when the government agrees to provide 10% (developed plots)."
गौतम बुध नगर किसान सभा जिला अध्यक्ष कामरेड रुपेश वर्मा जेल से रिहाई के बाद किसानों के बीच पहुंचे और आगे के रणनीति का एलान किया! pic.twitter.com/y0C75wF5Av
— AIKS (@KisanSabha) December 4, 2024
Taking aim at Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Verma asserted, "Protest is our constitutional right, and we were demonstrating on the land of Babasaheb Ambedkar. Listen carefully, Yogi Ji: this country does not belong to any one individual—it belongs to us, the farmers. If you attempt to suppress this right, the farmers of this nation will rise against you."
Verma's fiery speech highlighted the farmers' unwavering resolve to defend their rights and press for their demands.
Wednesday’s Mahapanchayat saw speeches from AIKS leaders Vijoo Krishnan, Hannan Mollah, AIKS, Finance Secretary P Krishnaprasad, Central Kisan Committee (CKC) members Manoj Kumar, Nidheesh Villatt, and others.
However, Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait was barred by police from joining the protest.
The protests stem from long-standing grievances over land acquisition policies. Farmers are demanding the implementation of the 2013 Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation, and Resettlement Act (LARR Act).
The LARR Act replaced a colonial-era law and promised better compensation and rehabilitation measures. However, successive governments, particularly the BJP, have been accused of undermining the law to facilitate corporate development. Farmers allege that their lands were forcibly acquired under the outdated colonial law, leaving them inadequately compensated and without viable livelihoods.
Their other demands include 10% of developed plots as compensation for their acquired lands, proper rehabilitation for displaced families, employment opportunities for affected farmers and a legally binding Minimum Support Price (MSP) for crops.
On Monday, thousands of farmers marched towards Delhi from various villages and towns surrounding the capital. Despite facing barricades and police action, they pressed forward, converting the march into a sit-in at the border when negotiations were initially promised.
The current agitation follows decades of protests led by AIKS and other organizations advocating for farmers' rights. NOIDA's expansion over the years has displaced countless farmers, many of whom now struggle to survive.
While promises of land redistribution and rehabilitation were made, they remain unfulfilled, forcing farmers to continue their fight.
The farmers’ movement, which gained momentum during the 2020-21 protests against the BJP’s controversial farm laws, is now focused on securing justice for landowners and safeguarding their livelihoods.
As the protests continue, the farmers remain resolute in their struggle for justice, asserting that their voices cannot be silenced, and their rights cannot be ignored.
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