Pen Raigad: Fast Continues despite deteriorating health conditions on the &th day against Mamahmumbai SEZ.
mukta srivastava
The hunger fast at Pen, Dt. Raigad against the MahaMumbai SEZ, which entered its seventh day continued to receive not only local support, but also support from various parts of the state and country. Meanwhile, the fasting farmers reiterated their resolve that they will continue their fast till the 22 irrigated villages are excluded from the purview of the SEZ and till section 6(1) notices under the Land Acquisition Act are withdrawn.
Seventeen persons have been fasting since 18th July 2007, when the fast organised by the 24 Gaon SEZ Virodhi Shetkari Sangharsh Sanghatna began. Of these 78 year old Thakibai Thakur has been admitted in KEM Hospital, while two of the three others who had been hospitalised due to deteriorating health have returned to continue their fast. Additionally Dilip Patil and his wife Sulabha, wished to continue their fast even after the sudden death of Dilip's sister, but were persuaded by the Sanghatna to withdraw from the fast. Meanwhile, Dr. Pradip Patkar and Kamal Hilam, who were fasting in support of the farmers, have withdrawn their fast after six days of extending support. However, nine persons continue their uninterrupted fast.
Representatives from various political parties and trade unions have been thronging the fast site. Along with the PWP, the Shiv Sena, BJP, Janata Dal (S), Rashtriya Samaj Party, CPI(M), CPI, Lok Rajniti Manch, Samajwadi Jan Parishad have expressed their unstinted support to the Andolan. Additionally, trade unionists from the Girni Kamgar Sangharsh Samiti, AITUC, Sarva Shramik Sangh, Shramik Mahila Morcha, MSEB Workers Federation, Kisan Sabha, Madhyamik Shikshak Sanghatana etc. have also condemned the government policy and extended their support.
Local support from all sections of society has been extended enthusiastically. Support has come from the Rickshaw and Vikram Chalak-Malak Union, Housing Socities, Medical Associations, Village Youth groups and Sarvajanik mandals. The press including the Akhil Bhartiya Marathi Patrakar Sangh, Raigad District Press Club, Raigad Zilla Marathi Patrakar Sangh, Raigad Zilla Shramik Patrakar Sangh have condemned the government's policy of the SEZ juggernaut in no uncertain times.
Jagatikikaran Virodhi Kruti Samiti, National Alliance of Peoples' Movements, Shoshit Jan Andolan, BAMCEF, Konkan Marathi Sahitya Parishad as well as various peoples organisations from Jharkand, Uttarakhand, West Bengal, Karnataka and other state have also extended support.
The administration however, has tried to ignore the Andolan. When the district Collector visited the Pen Tahsil office on the third day of the fast, she refused to visit the fast site. Naturally, on the fifth day when she deigned to meet the fasting farmers she was met with black flags and slogans. She opined that all the issues related to Policy decisions outside her scope. When she was reminded that the issues of bogus land deals, sale agreements and transactions within the irrigated beneficiary zone were all within the purview of her responsibilities, she preferred to remain silent.
The Andolan has also strongly criticised the state government for not wishing to meet the members of the Andolan. The Chief Minister has till today, i.e. even after fourteen months refused to meet the farmers.
The Andolan has rejected the government's clarification by the Chief Minister and Revenue Minister that there will be no further action on the on-going process under section 6(1) of the Land Acquisition Act. If the Chief Minister is to be believed, then why are the very notices not being withdrawn, instead of keeping them "alive" to be used at some future opportune moment ? The government has also stated that it will not intervene in any land deals made directly between the farmers and Reliance. But seeing the continued administrative support to the company has termed this clarification as being ridiculous and misleading.
The Union government had clarified that irrigated land will not be included in SEZones. This position has been reiterated on a number of occasions by both the Prime Minister and the Chairperson of the UPA, Sonia Gandhi. Even so, by refusing to exclude the 22 villages falling in the Command Area of the Hetawne Dam, the Chief Minister and Revenue Minister are refusing to follow the directions of their Central leaders . The Andolan has criticised the Chief Minister for falling prey to the money bags of Reliance.
National Alliance of People's Movements