Vibrant Gujarat Summits steal land and water from us, say farmers

Farmers in Gujarat, under the aegis of the Gujarat Khedut Ekta Manch will begin a three-day march from Karamsad, the birth place of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel to Gandhi Ashram in Ahmedabad in order to protest against the upcoming Vibrant Gujarat Summit (VGS). They allege that farmers are at the receiving end of the previously held VGS as they have to lose their land and water due to it.

"We want to file a suit that farmers have not benefitted from any of the Vibrant Gujarat Summits. On the other hand, setting up of industrial units have resulted in acquisition of farm land and loss of livelihood for the farmers," said Sagar Rabari, president of Gujarat Khedut Ekta Manch.

The rally begins at 9:30 am on Wednesday from Karamsad. Rabari along with 50 odd farmers will distribute pamphlets with slogans that will touch base on loss to farmers as a result of VGS.

"Our aim is to point out that farmers did not benefit from any of these summits and they are being deprived of two of their most necessary inputs – land and water. MoUs, as a part of these summits have found no mention of farmers. In fact, it would not be wrong to say that Vibrant Summits are one of the reasons of the deteriorating condition of farmers. All the resources of the government are also diverted to industries at the cost of farmers," said Rabari.

During this three-day rally, farmers will make night-halts at Alindra, in Central Gujarat and Jetalpur near Ahmedabad. A memorandum voicing the demands of farmers will also be submitted to the district collectors and taluka mamlatdars.

The farmers in Gujarat will also be demanding complete farm loan waivers along with a guarantee of receiving remunerative returns against their crops.