The Hindu : Kerala / Kochi News : Chengara solidarity meet held

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Kerala - Kochi

Chengara solidarity meet held

Staff Reporter

KOCHI: The reversal of the land reform process is happening as the government is taking away land from farmers to distribute it to multinational companies, said Supreme Court lawyer Prashant Bhushan. The problem in Chengara was bound to happen in this background, he said.

He was addressing a national solidarity meet of the Chengara land agitation here on Saturday.

People have the right to live with dignity and they are giving notice to the government through forceful occupation of the estate in Chengara. The State has the responsibility to redistribute land for reducing inequality, he said.

The government is focusing on the rate of economic growth.

Taking over of land for better utilisation is part of this policy. But the rich had become richer while the condition of the lower strata of society had worsened.

The widening gap between the rich and the poor had a deleterious effect on the society, he said.

The people who have taken up the struggle at Chengara should be prepared to face any government action. Their success would force the government to complete the process of land reforms.

Writer and human rights activist Arundhati Roy who had visited Chengara said a radical movement was taking place there. She extended her support to the struggle.

Laha Gopalan, leader of the Chengara movement, said arrests were being made by the police as June 7, the deadline set by judiciary for settling the issue, was nearing. Food materials and newspapers meant for distribution among the participants of the struggle are being seized.

The State Home Minister had made a secret visit to Chengara the other day, Mr Gopalan said.

Chengara could become a Nandigram, Muthanga or Punnapra.

The struggle is for the right for existence above the poverty line and even the threat of death would not deter the agitators, he said. Getting land beyond the limits set by the Land Reforms Act was the core issue and the government was bent on sabotaging it under various strategies, he said.

M.D.Thomas, K.K.Kochu, A.K.Ramakrishnan, Suhara, Vasu and other activists were present. A film on the struggle was screened on the occasion.

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