Farmers’ rasta roko tomorrow

Hyderabad: With many districts facing threat to crops if Brijesh Kumar Tribunal verdict is implemented, leaders representing various farmers unions have decided to organise ‘rasta roko’ protest programme in 12 districts on December 3. The leaders will be meeting Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy on the issue on Monday. At a round table conference on ‘Tribunals impact on state’s agriculture’ organised by AP Rytu Sangham (APRS) at Makhdoom Bhavan, farmers unions representing various political and non-political organisations highlighted their worst fears. This was presided over by Pasya Padma, president APRS.

The leaders decided to adopt a three-pronged approach - mass movements, putting pressure on state and central governments and legal options – to fight the flaws in the Tribunal award. Retired ANGRAU professor K R Choudhary suggested that an all-party meeting should be organised on the issue and their problems should be put in front of the political parties. And opinions of experts like engineers, agriculture scientists and lawyers should be taken before taking forward the issue to state and central governments. He also suggested filing a PIL in Supreme Court.