Farmers hail withdrawal of cases by PepsiCo, demand 'token' compensation

Terming withdrawal of the case by PepsiCo as a big win for the farmers of the country, the affected farmers have demanded a 'token' compensation for alleged defamation and damages meted out to them.

The development comes days after PepsiCo filed a suit against four farmers in the state claiming that they used its patented seeds to grow potatoes without prior permission.

Sharing details of update in the case, farmers' lawyer Anand Yagnik said, "PepsiCo has unconditionally withdrawn cases against farmers of Aravali and Sabarkatha. Today farmers have won over the multinational company and it means a lot."

He also said that PepsiCo must apologise to the farmers and provide compensation to them.

"They symbolically want Rs 1 as compensation for defamation and damages meted out to them. They have expressed an opinion to counter-litigate against PepsiCo."

Yagnik also raised concerns over a reported meeting between government representatives and PepsiCo, saying, "We are very much concerned and aggrieved by a closed-door meeting between the Gujarat government and PepsiCo. Government has not spoken to farmers who are being harassed and litigated by PepsiCo. Therefore we want the government of Gujarat to hold no further talk with PepsiCo without taking farmers into confidence."

One of the farmers Bipin Patel said, "This is a win for all the farmers of the country. PepsiCo since April 11 has tormented us through fake cases, however, they have withdrawn the case before next date of hearing on June 12."

Farmer activist Kapil Shah said, "This case will serve as an example for other farmers spread throughout the country."

In April this year, the American multinational company had filed a suit against four farmers of the state claiming that they have used its patented seeds to grow potatoes without prior permission.

Later the same month, it had said that it will make an out-of-court settlement with the farmers.