BHUBANESWAR: Farmer outfits on Sunday conducted a 'Mashal Yatra' in the city and other parts of the state to pay tribute to the Pulwama martyrs and the farmers who lost their lives while agitating at Delhi protest sites. They claimed that over 200 farmers have died during the farmer movement.
The farmers and their leaders under the aegis of Samyukt Kisan Morcha, a united front of farmer outfits, organised the Mashal Yatra starting from Master Canteen square to Rajmahal square and then culminated at Lower PMG here. They were appealing the people to support the agitating farmers.
All India Kisan Sabha state secretary Suresh Panigrahy said they paid rich tribute to the martyrs of Pulwama along with the farmers who lost their lives while protesting the draconian farm laws. “More than 200 farmers have died during the farmer movement. This torch rally is a respect to the great souls. Jai Jawan and Jai Kisan,” he added.
He said they also requested the people of the state to support their movement and make the February 18 Rail Roko a grand success. “Our protest will continue against the farm laws. We are also demanding the government to ensure minimum support price (MSP) for agricultural produces,” he added.
Navniman Krushak Sangathan (NKS), a farmer outfit, organised the Mashal Yatra at Kalpana Square here in memory of the Pulwama martyrs and farmers who lost their lives at the protest sites in Delhi. “This struggle and movement is for the benefit of the whole farmer community. We will get success,” said NKS state coordinator Seshadev Nanda.
Meanwhile, the outfits have started holding meetings with several farmers in rural areas to make the February 18 rail roko success. This Mashal Yatra was a warm-up event before their Rail Roko protest. They have already prepared their plans to observe the stir between 12 o’clock and 4 pm on February 18 in a peaceful manner.
The farmer outfits have appealed everybody including non-NDA political parties to show solidarity to their movement. Congress, all left parties including CPI, CPI (M), CPI (ML) Liberation, CPI (ML), CPI (ML) New Democracy, Samajwadi Party and others have extended their support to the February 18 stir. Their farmer wings will hit the street along with the farmers.