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This is an archive article published on April 9, 2024
Unconvinced by election pitches, Gautam Buddha Nagar farmers now in ‘wait & watch’ mode
Pawan Khatana, western UP president of Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU), said, “Our responsibility is to make voters aware of their rights, not to sit at home during the election and then garland the same leader, against whom we had protested...”
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Farmers stopped by police during a protest march in the Capital in February. (Express Archive) Two months after their protest in Gautam Buddha Nagar to demand higher compensation and developed plots in lieu of their land, farmers in the region are yet to find any solution to their woes in speeches of political leaders in the run-up to the Lok Sabha election.
In a “wait and watch” mode now, the farmer leaders said that let alone the ruling BJP, even Opposition leaders don’t seem to have a clear roadmap to resolve the issue. In February, three farmer organisations had joined hands and given a call to march to the Parliament. However, they were stopped in Noida and later, the UP government formed a panel to look into their grievances.
Sukhbir Khalifa, head of Bharatiya Kisan Union, said the committee is not working properly. “As far as I know, a meeting was held recently, but we were not invited. The District Magistrate said that farmers will be invited to the meeting after the April 26 election. As of now, we are in a ‘wait and watch’ state… In 10 days, farmer unions are going to hold a meeting during which we will decide if any of the promises have been fulfilled by the BJP government and its MP here,” said Khalifa, adding that the organisation will not force anyone to vote for any specific party.
Pawan Khatana, western UP president of Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU), said, “Our responsibility is to make voters aware of their rights, not to sit at home during the election and then garland the same leader, against whom we had protested…”
Stating that people should vote as farmers and not as “Hindu or Muslim”, he said, “We should go door to door and make people aware of their rights and problems.” The farmers have two major demands: 10% of residential plots for their families on developed land as compensation for their land acquired by the Noida, Greater Noida and Yamuna authorities, and an additional 64.7% monetary compensation in line with a 2011 Allahabad HC order.
Bahujan Samaj Party’s (BSP) candidate Rajendra Solanki said, “If people elect me, I will raise this matter in Parliament. I will also demand an equitable compensation policy and reservation in local factories for the youth.”
Samajwadi Party’s (SP) national spokesperson Pradeep Bhati said, “If we come to power in the state, we will get this (the demands) passed in the cabinet; we will not form the committee just to pass the buck.”
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Gajendra Mavi, Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) district president, said, “A high-powered committee has been formed on the direction of the chief minister. We are waiting for the report, on the basis of which further action will be taken. I am hopeful that longstanding issues of the farmers will be resolved.”
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