Farmer Protest Kolkata Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), Kolkata Mahapanchyat

In an unprecedented move, several farmers protesting at the Delhi border for over 100 days reached the poll-bound state of West Bengal on Thursday for a three-day visit to campaign against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

 The farmer leaders, under the umbrella organisation Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), are scheduled to address five mahapanchayats in Bengal – two in Kolkata and one each in Nandigram, Singur and Asansol.

Nandigram and Singur are significantly important as both areas witnessed the fight against forcible land acquisition by the Left Front government and helped Mamata Banerjee come to power, ending the Left’s 34-year rule of the state.

 Addressing the press at the Calcutta Press Club, farm leader Balbir Singh Rajewal, president of Bhartiya Kisan Union said, “The Centre is selling all government-owned companies, their main aim is corporatisation of this country. So, we have decided that we visit states where elections are taking place and tell brother farmers and common people that Modi government’s policy will destroy this country. And request them not to vote for the BJP. We are not here to support any political party. Our humble request is vote for any party of your choice, but not BJP. Please teach BJP a lesson.” 

The farmer leaders’ visit to Nandigram in East Medinipur district will be keenly watched by the people of Bengal as it has become the epicentre of the fierce battle between the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the BJP. The incumbent chief minister has relinquished her old constituency Bhowanipore to contest from Nandigram against her former trusted lieutenant Suvendu Adhikari, who switched over to the BJP three months back.

Leader of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) Rakesh Tikait will be reaching Kolkata on March 13 morning and will lead the mahapanchyat organised by SKM in Nandigram.

Tikait’s emotional speech in the face of an eviction order on January 28 at the Ghazipur border became a symbol of resistance against the three farm laws as it was credited for mobilisation of several hundreds of famers from western Uttar Pradesh.