Activists converge to intensify Bhumi Adhikar Andolan

A two day national meeting, held at Indian Social Institute here which concluded today, saw delegates from 22 states representing over 100 mass organisations converge and discuss in detail the challenges facing the land rights movement and people of the country.

Bhumi Adhikar Andolan (BAA) is against the Land Acquisition Ordinance brought by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led BJP Government.

Representatives of various mass movements incuding Medha Patkar, Hannan Mollah, Com. Satyavan, Ashok Choudhary, Prafulla Samantara, Dayamani Barla, Alok Shukla, Ulka Mahajan, Roma, and Anil Chaudhary spoke at the event and asserted a broad-based unity that will take forward the issue of achieving land rights for the peasantry, agricultural workers, forest dwellers, dalits and adivasis.

The joint alliance resolved to strengthen the struggle at the state-level and outlined detailed resolutions tackling the major problems of forced land acquisition, agrarian distress, food security and livelihood security.

Ulka Mahajan of Sarvahara Jan Andolan, Maharashtra questioned the government's development policies involving acquisition of large tracts of cultivable land.

"There is no planning for the rural population of the country. Where will all those displaced by land acquisition for mega projects like the Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor go? Why is there no democratic discussion or Parliament attention on such important matters? Bhumi Adhikar Andolan is not just a struggle to save land but also to save the environment, the rights of agricultural labour and workers, and most importantly to save our democracy," she said.

"Rights of people are being crushed for corporate profit. Bhumi Adhikar Andolan will take up problems faced by the country's toiling masses today - the farmer, dalit and adivasi. BAA stands in solidarity with struggles against forced land acquisition and extends support to activists facing repression for demanding people's rights," said Hannan Mollah of All India Kisan Sabha (Canning Lane).

Bhumi Adhikar Andolan has announced that it will hold a Chetavani Rally along with Forest Rights Day at Sansad Marg on December 15th.