Farmers Movement Archive

Bihar: Tejashwi Prasad Yadav leads MGB human chain in support of farmers’ agitation

PATNA: The Mahagatbandhan leaders and supporters on Saturday formed a human chain across the state in solidarity with the farmers protesting against the farm laws in Delhi. Leader of opposition Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, who joined the human chain near the Buddha Smriti Park in Patna, said their protest against the “black laws” will continue until they are rolled back. Tejashwi was accompanied by CPI-ML general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya, CPM leader Awadhesh Kumar, CPI’s Ram Babu Kumar, Congress legislative party leader Ajit Sharma and RJD state president Jagdanand Singh as well as Rajya Sabha member Manoj Jha. A large number of Mahagatbandhan workers also gathered at Fraser Road holding their party flags, including the Left’s red flags, dotting the entire Fraser Road locality. This chain was formed for thirty minutes starting 12.30 pm in different areas of the capital such as Phulwarisharif, Sadaqat Ashram and Samanpura as well as various pockets of Patna district such as Paliganj, Masaurhi and Bikram. January 30 was selected for this event to commemorate the Martyr’s Day on the death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. After the event, Tejashwi said, “I do not know why he is keeping silent. Nitish Kumar should say whether farmers’ protest is right or not.” He lashed out at the Bihar CM for abolishing the APMC in 2006 which worsened the farmers’ condition in Bihar. He also challenged the CM to have a debate on the consequences of the black laws and condition of farmers in Bihar. He then tweeted that a historic human chain in support of the farmers was formed till the panchayat level with the support of all alliance partners. CPI-ML leader Bhattacharya said the farmers’ protest was reaching new heights and the Narendra Modi government was trying to suppress this movement using a small incident of violence on January 26. “They had even started to suppress this moment on the Delhi border and UP, however, entire western UP stood against the Modi-Yogi dictatorship. Even in Bihar, the pitch in support of law for MSP is getting higher," Bhattacharya said. Several Congress leaders joined the human chain outside Sadaqat Ashram, the state Congress headquarters, with placards in their hand and raising slogans against the NDA government. Congress MLC Prem Chandra Mishra said the chain was formed in all district headquarters by his party and it was a symbol to express their solidarity with farmers. “Congress has always stood with the farmers,” Mishra said, criticising the ruling NDA leaders for making fun of the human chain. “Those who are inhuman, cannot see humans anywhere. They (BJP leaders) cannot even see lakhs of farmers protesting on the Delhi borders. For them, those farmers are dalals,” Mishra responded to the ruling party leaders’ jibes calling this event a flop show without humans.

The Times of India

2021-01-31

Patna