AIKMS, Peasants

Gujarat Police lobs tear gas, lathichages 5000 farmers for protesting diversion of Irrigation canal water to Big Industry

CEC of AIKMS has strongly condemned lathicharge and tear gas firing on several thousand protesting peasants of Sanand, Gujarat who were marching to Gandhinagar against the govt. having diverted irrigation water for their fields for Sanand industries. Peasants have been left starved for both irrigation and drinking water and their rabi crop is facing severe drought while big corporates draw the  benefit of Sanand canal water being diverted for them by BJP govt. of Gujarat.
While Sri Modi is conspicuous by his silence on the issue his party and the govt. are not only depriving peasants of water meant for them, but also the right to peacefully represent their problems.
On Feb 14 about 5000 peasants began the march on tractors. They were from 32 villages of the area including Veeramgam, Bavla and Sanand. Led by a DSP police stopped them at Nal Sarovar and brutally lathicharged with even women and children being attacked by men in uniform. When they protested tear gas shells were lobbed to disperse them.  The injured peasants are being treated at Sola Civil Hospital. However Ansari has claimed injuries to 7 policemen and none to the civilians. He has taken 20 peasants into custody under various allegations.
The issue of dispute relates to diversion of Narmada Canal water meant for the villagers to the newly established industries of the area, leaving the peasants to suffer.
This issue highlights the attitude of the Gujarat govt as well as the central govt, pro Corporate and anti-peasant. Their policies is to handover all resources including land and water, meant for the people to gain employment and earn by working on them for the Giant Corporate.
All India Kisan Mazdoor Sabha (AIKMS) has called for all India protest programmes on this issue. It has demanded suspension of the police officers involved and a Judicial Enquiry into the incident.