Farmers unite under BKS banner to oppose Becharaji SIR in Guj

RSS-affiliated farmers' union Bharatiya Kisan Sangh today passed a resolution against the Gujarat government's move to develop the proposed Mandal- Becharaji Special Investment Region, which also houses Maruti Suzuki India's car plant, as an auto and knowledge hub.
"The Gujarat chapter of BKS today passed the resolution against acquisition of land from 44 villages in Ahmedabad and Mehsana districts for developing the proposed Mandal-Becharaji SIR as an 'auto and knowledge' hub," BKS' Gujarat unit general secretary Manibhai Patel said in a statement here.
The SIR covers Maruti car plant located at Hansalpur village on Viramgam-Becharaji highway.
The farmers who met under BKS banner at Gandhinagar also chalked out the strategy for the September 13 rally 'Sher bano Delhi chalo'.

As part of the agitation, the local chapter of BKS will also organise programmes across villages in Gujarat to raise awareness among farmers about their rights.
Patel said the body will fight to get back farmers' land, earmarked for the SIR project.
"The BKS meeting also discussed various issues faced by farmers, like crop insurance during last year's scarcity, delay in getting electricity connections after moving out of dark zones (area where earlier electricity connections were not given due to dip in underground water), crop loss due to wild animals, among others," the statement said.
Farmers from 44 villages had held a meeting last month opposing the state government's plan and decided to submit a memorandum to the state government next week regarding acquisition of land for SIR.