A farmers’ protest demonstration was organized in Samastipur on 28 December in which hundreds of farmers from the district gathered at the Sugar Mill chowk and took out a protest march by the AIKM. The demands of the protest were: (i) Waiving off of all kinds of loans to the farmers, (ii) opening of foodgrain procurement centres, (iii) free electricity for agricultural work, (iv) procurement of milk at appropriate price, and v) free distribution of seeds and fertilizers. The demand for suspension of Ujiarpur station incharge Manoj Kumar Singh for having conniving with alcohol and ration mafia was also raised.
As the march reached the collectorate, several AIKM leaders addressed the farmers including state president Vishweshwar Yadav. They said that Nitish led government in the state had proved itself time and again to be anti-farmers. It is telling that while the government at the state and at the centre hesitate while waiving off loans of farmers or providing them with needed support, they experience no such hesitations or doubts while ensuring profits for the corporate and providing them all kinds of incentives. The farmers will not tolerate this and will ensure that such governments are shown the door. They handed a 10-point charter of demands to the DM, demanding immediate action.
