Puttur: Swaraj Abhiyan’s Jai Kisan Andolan for Dakshina Kannada district was formally inaugurated here, on 7 July, 2015.
The ‘andolan’ was inaugurated by Chukki Nanjundaswamy. Ritin Paul (Mechanical Engineer-turned-Agriculturist) was the chief guest. He spoke about his personal experience and a career in the agriculture sector.
Ravi Kiran Pranacha (district president of Raitha Sangha) was the chief organiser of the function. Vinod Mysore, D M Narasimha Murthy and Dr Shreeramappa of Swaraj Abhiyan, several leaders from Raitha Sangha, social activist Vidya Dinkar and about 250 people from the farming community participated in the inauguration.
Farmers from 28 villages brought mud from their villages as a mark of protest. They filled it in separate pots, to be sent to the Parliament in Delhi in the final stage of the Jai Kisan Andolan.
Speeches and discussions centred around the state of farmers and the 3 main demands of Jai Kisan Andolan: Withdrawal of the Land Acquisition Second Amendment bill (2015), Farmers’ Minimum Income Guarantee Act, and Comprehensive, assured and adequate compensation against natural calamity.
The participants were urged to spread the word. They were also invited for the second phase of the Jai Kisan movement, a ‘tractor-march’ to the Parliament by farmers led by leaders like Yogendra Yadav. The march will start on August 1 from Punjab and reach Delhi moving through Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. The march will culminate on August 10, during the monsoon session of parliament with ‘kalashas’ from thousands of farmers belonging to villages from all parts of the country presented before the Parliament.
Swaraj Abhiyan has released the number 011-4666-6662 to which people willing to be a part of the Jai Kisan Movement can give a missed call.