Farmers protest against land acquisition by Modi government

Ahmedabad: Even as Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi has been claiming that he is responsible for the state's economic development, land acquisition for industries remains a thorny issue. Thirty-five villages of four districts have started a movement against the land acquisition being carried out under the Special Investment Region (SIR). The villagers says that only industrialists benefit from the land acquired for development.

Several villages in Gujarat's Mehsana and Ahmedabad have warnings painted on the walls asking industrialists and government officers not to enter the village for land acquisition otherwise they will have to pay a heavy price.

Azmal Thakor, sarpanch of Hansalpur village, said that they have put up posters in the village to protest against land acquisition. The agitating villagers said they would give up their lives but not the land. They have also warned the government officials not to enter the village.

Gujarat government wants to acquired land in 35 villages in four districts land and develop it into a Special Investment Region. The government is planning to establish automobile industries in the area but the farmers are against the move.

An organisation called Land Rights Movement has united the villagers and given them the platform to fight against the government. Chunni Bhai Vaid, a well-known Gandhian of the area, is leading the movement. According to Chunni Bhai no farmer is willing to give the fertile land to the government.

The government has given 600 acres of  land to Maruti while the company has also bought nearly 500 acres of land from the open market. Chunni Bhai said that some of the land acquired by the government for the project belonged to the famers of the area. He alleges that the government gave this land to Maruti claiming that it was not being used. Farmers are up in arms after they came to know about the government's action.

Chunni Bhai added that government should understand that people are not ready to go the Singur way. However, if the government forces the farmers to part with their land, then the people will have no choice.

However, state government spokesperson Nitin Patel claimed that the farmers were being misled. Patel said that the government is giving the correct picture and farmers will made aware about everything related to their land and adequate compensation will be paid to the farmers whose land is acquired.