Farmers continue stir on Modi stand
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17/03/2011
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Asian Age (New Delhi)
The farmers' agitation against Nirma Ltd cement plant in Gujarat will continue with Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi declining to accept the demand of locals who are seeking to scrap the unit from the area. "We met chief minister on the issue but his response is unsatisfactory, so we will continue our struggle and agitation as at no cost we want the cement plant to be set up in our area," said BJP MLA Dr Kanubhai Kalsaria, who has been spearheading the agitation for over two years.
Dr Kalsaria, supported by Gandhian activists and others, led a 350-km protest march from Mahuva to Gandhinagar in which thousands of farmers and local residents participated and walked till the state capital.
Nirma Ltd is building a cement plant with a capacity of 1.91 million tonnes per annum, along with its captive power and coke oven plant, near Padhiarka village in Mahuva taluka of Bhavnagar district. Dr Kalsariya, who has gone against the party line in protesting against the project, said he was not "satisfied" with talks with the chief minister who "refused" to give any "commitment" to farmers who had walked over 350 km in a bid to save their agricultural land.
"Mr Modi said that the matter was in court and whatever it decides, the government would abide by it. He did not give any commitment to farmers," said Mr Kalsariya while addressing mediapersons after meeting the CM in Assembly building.
"This is not only the question of farmers of Mahuva.
Voice of farmers across Gujarat is being suppressed and their land is being given to industries without consulting them," he said.