After the successful movement of farmers for canal water for irrigation in Agiaon (Bhojpur) led by the CPI(ML) and All India Kisan Mahasabha the administration was forced to release water into the canal, but they have registered cases of road block and obstruction of government work against CPI(ML) leader Manoj Manzil and 40 other protesting farmers. CPI(ML) strongly condemns this action by the administration.
Party’s Bihar Secretary Kunal has said that the movement was started on the issue of joining Diliya Lakh with Diliya Narayanpur and Pawar canal lines so that water would be made available to the lower reaches of the canal. After 30 hours of continuous blockade of the Ara-Sahaar Main Road the administration agreed for talks and only after assurance of release of water into the canals given was the road block lifted.
But the administration has broken trust on both points. In order to release water into the above canals they have closed Koilwar-Rajwaha canal, resulting in acute water shortage for the villages between Sahar and Sandesh. In addition, they have filed false cases against the leaders of the protest. This is gross injustice.
Kunal said that the Nitish and Modi governments are totally irresponsible towards this problem. There is no water in the River Son, but the government does not take this as a cause for concern. Shahabad, once known as the ‘Paddy Bowl’ is now in the grip of a terrible drought. The Son canal system is on the brink of closing down. He demanded that the Bihar government should intervene immediately in this matter and take initiatives to bring back water in the Son River; he also demanded that the cases against the protesters should be withdrawn.
CPI(ML) is protesting this vengeful and anti-farmer act of Nitish government on the streets demanding withdrawal of all cases imposed and continuous availability of water for all seasons and all villages. A protest was also held in Samastipur district headquarters on these damands.
