Baragada: Farmers launched a ‘jail bharo’ protest Monday in Baragada, opposing what they described as “anti-farmer policies” and rules introduced by the state government. They demanded immediate withdrawal of the measures.
Hundreds of farmers, led by the Sanjukta Krushak Sangathan in Baragada, gathered at Gandhi Chowk and took out a protest march towards the office of the Superintendent of Police (SP). As the main gate of the SP’s office was closed, the farmers staged a sit-in and held a protest meeting outside.
Samyukta Kisan Morcha’s central member Aflatoon and Baragada’s Sanjukta Krushak Sangathan’s advisers Utpanna Bhoi, Ramesh Mohapatra and Sudam Patra addressed the gathering.
The agitating farmers placed their various demands in the meeting. The protesters also strongly opposed the use of Agristack requirements in paddy sale registration. They tore up a copy of a notification issued by the state Food and Supplies Minister at the protest site.
Police detained the protesting farmers and took them to the reserve police lines at Chakarkend before releasing them.
The farmers demand complete withdrawal of Agristack restrictions on registration for paddy sales, scrapping of the bilateral trade deal between the United States and India, waiver of all farm loans, adequate supply of subsidised chemical fertilisers, 300 units of free electricity for domestic consumers, a ban on corporatisation of agricultural land and ensuring farmers’ consent during land acquisition.
The farmers held a meeting at the reserve police barracks during their detention. The meeting decided to submit memorandums to the secretaries of all Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies (PACS) in the district August 13, addressed to the Chief Minister, demanding withdrawal of Agristack.
A major farmers’ protest will be held August 14, it was decided. Various organisations supported the “jail bharo” protest.
More than 100 farmers, including Ramesh Mohapatra, Sudam Patra, Karan Sahu, Subas Pradhan, Thabir Sahu, and Laxman Nayak of Rayagada, were detained.
