FARMERS AND WORKERS STAGED PROTEST IN KAIMUR

FARMERS AND WORKERS STAGED PROTEST IN KAIMUR

11-AUG-ENG 1

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

BHABHUA----------------------------The impact of the 'Jail Bharo' (Fill the Jails) movement—called nationwide by the Samyukt Kisan Morcha and central trade unions—was visible on Monday at the Kaimur district headquarters in Bhabhua. Activists associated with farmer and worker organizations staged a protest by blocking the road at the city's prominent Ekta Chowk for nearly an hour. Carrying flags and placards listing their demands, the protesters raised slogans against the central government and voiced their concerns regarding issues affecting farmers and laborers.

Traffic flow around Ekta Chowk was disrupted due to the agitation. Upon receiving information about the protesters taking to the streets, administrative and police teams arrived at the scene. Police personnel were deployed to maintain security, led by Bhabhua Station House Officer (SHO) Mukesh Kumar, City Council Executive Officer Sanjay Upadhyay, and Block Development Officer (BDO) Atulya Arya. Officials monitored the situation and attempted to manage the protest.

During the protest, Vijay Singh Yadav, District Secretary of CPI(ML), stated that farmers' organizations across the country are paying tribute to the martyrs of the 'August Kranti' (Quit India Movement) through these agitations during the month of August. He noted that protests regarding farmers' interests are taking place nationwide, and as part of this, activists at Bhabhua's Ekta Chowk blocked the road to convey their demands to the government.

He recalled that a large number of farmers had lost their lives during the farmers' movement. Demands are consistently being raised for the full implementation of the points agreed upon between the farmers and the central government during that agitation.

The protesters presented several key demands to the government concerning farmers. Their primary demands included a legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price (MSP) for all crops, the waiver of farmers' loans, and the cancellation of the India-US trade deal.

The protesters emphasized the necessity for farmers to receive fair prices for their crops. Furthermore, given the rising costs of farming and the financial strain on farmers, the government should seriously consider demands such as loan waivers.

Following the conclusion of the road blockades and protests held as part of the 'Jail Bharo' (Fill the Jails) agitation, the police took the participating activists into custody. The protesters were taken to the Bhabhua police station, where the necessary legal formalities were completed.

Mukesh Kumar, the Station House Officer (SHO) of Bhabhua, stated that 28 activists who arrived at the station during the protest were taken into custody in accordance with legal procedure and were subsequently released.

During the protest, which lasted for about an hour, farmer and laborer organizations raised their voices against the government to press for their demands. Traffic flow at Ekta Chowk returned to normal after the agitation ended. However, attention is now focused on future developments regarding the farmers' demands and the ongoing standoff with the government.