Calling Vibrant Gujarat business meet anti-farmer, top leader to hold foot march against "pro-industry" land laws

Sagar Rabari

By A Representative
Khedut Samaj Gujarat (KSG), the state's non-political farmers' organization which has successfully fought few major battles against land acquisition in special investment regions (SIRs) formed to speed up industrialization across the state, has announced that it would take out what it called “vedna yatra” (pain march) from Somnath to Gandhinagar from December 11 to January 2 to “highlight” farmers' plight.
KSG general secretary Sagar Rabari, who would walk on foot for 450 km all alone, said, he would be accompanied in between by farmers of different villages. Addressing newspersons in Ahmedabad, he added, following the Government of India's demonetization move, Gujarat farmers have been further pushed to distress after they were made to suffer from different laws to indiscriminately acquire land.
Asking three nother new non-political organizations that have cropped up across Gujarat in the recent past – Hardik Patel's Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS), Apesh Thakor's Other Backward Class (OBC), and Jignesh Mavani's Dalit Adhikar Manch (DAM) – to support his yatra, Rabari said, the idea is to highlight the farmers' sorrow ahead of the Vibrant Gujarat business summit.
To be held on January 10-11 at Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar, the plan is to oppose the Vibrant Gujarat summit by holding a 10,000-strong farmers' rally in the state capital. “The summit is a pro-industry and anti-farmer. It is being held against the backdrop of several laws passed by the Gujarat government to acquire farmers' land”, Rabari alleged.
“Facing distress due to irregular rainfall over the last three years, several anti-farmer laws were simultaneously imposed on Gujarat farmers. One of of them was to set aside certain progressive provisions of the Central Land Acquisition Act (LAA), 2013. Under this law, the Gujarat government dropped LAA's provision of social impact assessment (SIA) or consent for acquiring farmers' land”, he said.
Another law passed by the Gujarat government is the SIR Act, Rabari said. Under this Act, the Gujarat government can turn the entire SIR zone into a town planning area. By applying the town planning Act on SIR, it can acquire 50 per cent of farmers' land for urban infrastructure without taking their consent. Opposed by farmers under KSG, the state government was forced to drastically downside the Bechraji-Mandal SIR following long-drawn-out agitations two years ago.
The third one is irrigation Act, passed in 2015. “While this law has still not been implemented as no rule has been formed, it is patently anti-farmer, as it defines canal as not just irrigation canals as they are usually understood, but also any stream which flows during rainy season. The farmer is not allowed to use the a specified area of the land of this stream without the permission of the canal officer. If he does, he would face Rs 5,000 fine and three months' imprisonment”, Rabari said.
“The irrigation Act further bars anyone to pick up wood for even domestic burning in this zone, and says that if someone found guilty would be charged with Rs 10,000 fine and six months imprisonment”, Rabari said, adding, “It also seeks all farmers to register tubewells and wells in their fields, and requires farmers to take government permission to set up them up in future.”
“We oppose all these laws and want the state government to take them back”, he said, adding, “As for demonetization, it has particularly badly affected the farmers who produce vegetables. The farmers are being forced to either distress sell their vegetables, or allow them to rot for failing to get cash in return. For instance, they are forced to sell chili at Rs 2 per kg and tomatoes at Rs 5 per kg, while both the vegetables are available to the consumer at several times higher rate”, he said.
Rabari also said, against the backdrop of demonetization, he wants the Gujarat chief minister to waive farmers’ debts, which amount to Rs 30,000 crore, and declaring a date for complete payment of crop insurance they are entitled to receive because of natural disasters. “Also, the government should provide cash help of Rs 50,000, needed against the backdrop of the loss they have suffered because of demonetization”, he added.

Comments

Grueling summer ahead: Cuttack’s alarming health trends and what they mean for Odisha

By Sudhansu R Das The preparation to face the summer should begin early in Odisha. People in the state endure long, grueling summer months starting from mid-February and extending until the end of October. This prolonged heat adversely affects productivity, causes deaths and diseases, and impacts agriculture, tourism and the unorganized sector. The social, economic and cultural life of the state remains severely disrupted during the peak heat months.

Stronger India–Russia partnership highlights a missed energy breakthrough

By N.S. Venkataraman* The recent visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to India was widely publicized across several countries and has attracted significant global attention. The warmth with which Mr. Putin was received by Prime Minister Narendra Modi was particularly noted, prompting policy planners worldwide to examine the implications of this cordial relationship for the global economy and political climate. India–Russia relations have stood on a strong foundation for decades and have consistently withstood geopolitical shifts. This is in marked contrast to India’s ties with the United States, which have experienced fluctuations under different U.S. administrations.

Concerns raised over move to rename MGNREGA, critics call it politically motivated

By A Representative Concerns have been raised over the Union government’s reported move to rename the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), with critics describing it as a politically motivated step rather than an administrative reform. They argue that the proposed change undermines the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi and seeks to appropriate credit for a programme whose relevance has been repeatedly demonstrated, particularly during times of crisis.

From natural farming to fair prices: Young entrepreneurs show a new path

By Bharat Dogra There have been frequent debates on agro-business companies not showing adequate concern for the livelihoods of small farmers. Farmers’ unions have often protested—generally with good reason—that while they do not receive fair returns despite high risks and hard work, corporate interests that merely process the crops produced by farmers earn disproportionately high profits. Hence, there is a growing demand for alternative models of agro-business development that demonstrate genuine commitment to protecting farmer livelihoods.

A comrade in culture and controversy: Yao Wenyuan’s revolutionary legacy

By Harsh Thakor* This year marks two important anniversaries in Chinese revolutionary history—the 20th death anniversary of Yao Wenyuan, and the 50th anniversary of his seminal essay "On the Social Basis of the Lin Biao Anti-Party Clique". These milestones invite reflection on the man whose pen ignited the first sparks of the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution and whose sharp ideological interventions left an indelible imprint on the political and cultural landscape of socialist China.

Swami Vivekananda's views on caste and sexuality were 'painfully' regressive

By Bhaskar Sur* Swami Vivekananda now belongs more to the modern Hindu mythology than reality. It makes a daunting job to discover the real human being who knew unemployment, humiliation of losing a teaching job for 'incompetence', longed in vain for the bliss of a happy conjugal life only to suffer the consequent frustration.

Why India must urgently strengthen its policies for an ageing population

By Bharat Dogra A quiet but far-reaching demographic transformation is reshaping much of the world. As life expectancy rises and birth rates fall, societies are witnessing a rapid increase in the proportion of older people. This shift has profound implications for public policy, and the need to strengthen frameworks for healthy and secure ageing has never been more urgent. India is among the countries where these pressures will intensify most sharply in the coming decades.

Thota Sitaramaiah: An internal pillar of an underground organisation

By Harsh Thakor* Thota Sitaramaiah was regarded within his circles as an example of the many individuals whose work in various underground movements remained largely unknown to the wider public. While some leaders become visible through organisational roles or media attention, many others contribute quietly, without public recognition. Sitaramaiah was considered one such figure. He passed away on December 8, 2025, at the age of 65.

School job scam and the future of university degree holders in West Bengal

By Harasankar Adhikari The school recruitment controversy in West Bengal has emerged as one of the most serious governance challenges in recent years, raising concerns about transparency, institutional accountability, and the broader impact on society. Allegations that school jobs were obtained through irregular means have led to prolonged legal scrutiny, involving both the Calcutta High Court and the Supreme Court of India. In one instance, a panel for high school teacher recruitment was ultimately cancelled after several years of service, following extended judicial proceedings and debate.

Search This Blog