PEOPLE’S AGENDA FOR REJUVENATION OF INDIAN AGRICULTURE

Movement Against National Convention on Corporate Land Grab

At the National Convention on Corporate Land Grab organised on 7th and 8th of February, 2007, the movements decided to have Nation wide protests against SEZs in India. A decision was taken to observe Shahid Diwas, 23rd of March, 2007, as Land Sovereignty Day for Struggle against Uprooting (Bhu Swaraj Diwas Par Ujad Roko Sangharsh).

Taking inspiration from all the farmers of Nandigram, who have become martyrs, for the defense of their land sovereignty and land freedom, the following groups and movements have decided to carry out their action plan for Bhu Swaraj Diwas (Land sovereignty day ) on 23rd of March 2007.

HARYANA : A massive rally is being organized by people from Gurgaon, Rewari and Jhajjar district against the proposed Reliance SEZ in the area which would cover 25,000 acres of land. The rally would block the Gurgaon-Jhajjar state highway at11:00 AM for at least two hours. The road will be blocked in Dadri-joe, a small village on the way towards Jhajjar from Gurgaon.

PUNJAB : Bharat kisan Union (Ekta) is having a state level conference in Fatehgarh Channa in Barnala district, the same area which has been forcefully acquired by Trident group. A group of more than 10,000 people are expected to participate in the meeting, showing their dissent against the land acquisition.

MAHARASTRA : Massive protests are being organized all over the state by Jagatikikaran Virodhi Kriti Samiti (Anti-Globalisation Action Committee) and its partners. Rasta roko(road blockade) is being organized at 10 different place in the state by the committee. These blockades are a symbolic protest against the SEZs as the roads near-by to the major SEZs is being blocked. The blockades are planned in Gorai- Bhayender, , Pune, Kolhapur, Aurangabad, Dhulia- Sakri, Nagpur, Chandrapur, Amravati and in the state capital Mumbai by the samiti.

22 gaon bachao sangharsh samiti, which is fighting against the proposed Reliance SEZ in Raigad is taking out a 10 kilometre silent march from Karlikind to Alibaug at 11:00 AM to submit a memorandum to the collectors office. They are also organizing ?Rasta Roko? in Penn and Panvel.

WEST-BENGAL : The position of Nandigram and Singur, is very delicate after the violence in Nandigram and protests are taking place almost everyday in these areas. A large number of farmers are planning to gherao the block office of Khejuri, adjacent block of Nandigram.

ORISSA : The people opposing the TATA?s proposed factory in Kalinganagar are living under constant reign of terror from the police. More than 3000 police force has been deployed in the area to avoid any kind of demonstration from the local people. People had to suspend their plans of demonstrating against the factory, after the incidence of Nandigram.

But in the case of Anti-Posco movement, the situation is different and people?s voice has taken the upper hand over the Industry. Posco is planning to stall the project and could move to Vietnam. On 23rd people are assembling in large number to show their dissent and strengthen their fight against Posco further. The issue of SEZ will be discussed in the meeting. There is a possibility that Mittal Steel can come after Posco leaves the area, the meeting is organized to show its opposition against any such action in future. A group of around 1000-1500 people are expected to participate in the meeting which is scheduled to be held at 12:00 PM.

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Movement Against National Convention on Corporate Land Grab

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