By TCN Special Correspondent,
New Delhi: Protesting against discrimination in compensation for land acquired by Haryana government, Meo Muslim farmers reached national capital on Friday. They staged a dharna at Haryana Bhawan here demanding compensation at par with the rates given to the farmers of adjoining areas.
Meo-farmers from nine villages of Nuh block of district Mewat of Haryana organised under the banner of Samayukt Kisan Sangharsh Morcha, ANHAD and Pehchan claimed Haryana govt forcefully acquired their entire agricultural land at a very low rate. Farmers of these nine villages are predominantly Muslim.
Meo-Muslim farmers stage dharna at Haryana Bhawan in Delhi on 3rd Feb. 2012 (Photos by Mukul Dube
According to a statement released by protesting farmers, when the process of land acquisition was started in March 2008, the farmers in Mewat vehemently opposed it because the land was agricultural and only source of livelihood. But despite all protests their lands were acquired. The compensation rate for this land was kept Rs. 16 lakhs per hectare, whereas in adjoining villages (in Sohna block of district Gurgaon) the compensation has been given at the rate of Rs 55 lakhs per hectare.
Speaking to TwoCircles.net, Ramzan Chaudhary, convener of Samayukt Kisan Sangharsh Morcha said, “This is a sheer injustice and cruel form of indiscrimination against farmers of a particular community,” adding “we are sitting on Dharna since last nine months at the land and will continue out fight until ourr demands are fulfilled”. The names of the villages from which the farmers have continuously agitating are, Roja Meo, Kedil Kankar, Rewason, Meharola, Kenversika, Bedkali, Dhirdika, Rupahari and Behadri.
The agitating farmers submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister of Haryana, through his representative here at Haryana Bhawan. The demands made in the memorandum are: At par compensation along with Provision of 500 yards of developed land to every affected family, Govt. job to one person in the affected families, Preference in job in the IMT units and Provision of essential community amenities.
The Dharna was also attended by noted social activist Shabnam Hashmi, farmer leader from Haryana Colonel Shehrawat and many members of Pehchan and ANHAD.
(Photos by Mukul Dube)