https://countercurrents.org/2022/07/farmers-organisations-in-punjab-plan-to-protest-against-corporates-plunging-waste-into-rivers-and-robbing-water/

A massive agitation has been planned from July 21st to 25th by the farmers organization in Punjab to thwart the bid of the corporates to grab the land and pollute the waters of the rivers. Despite being the dominant state of agriculture, Punjab is a facing severe shortage of water for agriculture. Issue illustrates the patronising of corporate plunder by the rulers in the state and Centre. In a meeting staged in Abohar block in Nehru park thousands of farmers gathered .A dharna will be launched for a prolonged period outside Axion office  . The participating organisations are the Bharatiya Kisan Union(Ugrahan) and the Kisan Sangharsh Commitee. 

Union leader Gurbhej Singh Roheaana narrated how endorsed by the World Bank the corporates planted factories by grabbing the farmers land near river banks, with the waste discarded into the rivers. They summed up the nexus between the infecting of river waters with the wastage and the anti-people economic policies of the rulers which patronized corporate plunder. Under the false pretext of claiming to distribute water to the people it sapped up the river water for its own usage. The problem was linked to the corporate loot on the whole, backed by the ruling parties as well as robbing the farmers of the right to water, on pretext of centralisation.

The organizations chalked out a plan to confront the corporate monopoly in its very belly, hitting them at their strongest point. They summarized how the corporates purchased water at the cheapest rates and sold diesel at virtually unaffordable rates. Activists are determined to send shivers down the spines of the corporates.A mobilization of over 25000 persons is expected.

Kirti Kisan Union protest in Chandigarh

Earlier on June 30th the Kirti Kisan Union staged a protest of around 10000 persons in Chandigarh-Mohali demanding solution to the aggravating water crisis in Punjab. It shook the rulers in their very backyard.,projecting issues in all spheres.Mohali Police tried to obstruct protesting farmers at YPS Chowk with Barricading but the barricades could not withstand the wrath of the farmers. After that police offered to negotiate. Despite the busyness of paddy sowing and rains, a large number of farmers from different districts of the state converged join the protest. Earlier, the farmers rallied in front of Gurdwara Amb Sahib after which they marched towards Chandigarh to hand over their memorandum to the Punjab Chief Minister.

Addressing a gathering of farmers, the state president of the organization Nirbhai Singh Dhudike, general secretary Satbir Singh Sultani and vice president Rajinder Singh Deep Singh Wala said that Punjab despite being the dominant state of agriculture was facing severe shortage of water for agriculture. The crisis is accentuating day by day due to incompetent policies and mis-management of three sources of water, ground water, river-canal water and rain water. The right to water of the state has been robbed by the Union Government through the Dam Security Act under the agenda of centralization. They appealed to the farmers to mobilize a massive public struggle against the Union government on this issue in future and demanded the repeal of this act. They also demanded that the Punjab government should stand for the defence of federal structure of the constitution and pass a resolution in the Assembly to repeal the Act.

Addressing the gathering, Finance Secretary Harmesh Singh Dhesi and Press Secretary Jatinder Singh Chhina said that there was a need to develop the canal system encompassing the entire state to manage the unused flow of water in the rivers and also to give priority to the policy of irrigation through canal water. Stressing on the need to make arrangements for making canal water accessible all the year round, they demanded to start a pilot project by formulating a concrete policy for recharge of ground water. In addition to formulating a policy for urban and rural areas to send rainwater to the underground water table, the demand for recharge points on canals was also raised by the farmer’s leaders.

by Harsh Thakor

15/07/2022

https://countercurrents.org/2022/06/agnipath-path-of-militarisation-of-society/

Agnipath scheme, in spite of its popular Bollywood title and its hyped launch, has set the Indian youth on fire against the government within a day of its launch. In the present environment of economic uncertainty, the young Indians are instigated with the scheme announced by our prime minister, as it shrinks their job opportunity in the defense forces further. The ‘hire and fire’ logic of cost cutting will not only hurt the careers in the army, but it will also reduce the professional competency of the defense forces in the long run. While all this is discussed by defense experts, one must explore another side of this scheme, that it makes thousands of trained ‘Agniveers’ -75% recruits who lose their jobs after four years contract is over – simply unemployed. Government is saying that they can be absorbed in the state police force or other professional security requirements, but that can turn out to be a half truth. Most of them are more likely to be absorbed as private security guards by agencies out to exploit them. One dangerous prospect is – they will become easy recruits for political ideologies that believe in violence, to be used in the capacity of foot soldiers.

by  Harshavardhan Purandare and Sandeep Pandey

19/06/2022

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Lt Gen Anil Puri, additional secretary in the department of military affairs, said at a tri-services media briefing that all those aiming to join the three services under the scheme will have to pledge that they were not part of protests or incidents of arson.

His comments came amid violent protests against the new model of recruitment that largely provides for a four-year contractual tenure in the three services.

https://www.rediff.com/news/report/undertaking-mandatory-for-agnipath-applicants-on-non-participation-in-stir-arson/20220619.htm

19/06/2022

THE REHABILITATION POLICY FOR KHORI GAON IS NOT READY, THE ORDERS OF THE HON’BLE SUPREME COURT ARE NOT BEING FOLLOWED!

*Press Note : 08-08-2021* 

In Khori Gaon, hundreds of families have been displaced and thousands of houses are being brutally demolished each day. After the completion of the demolition drive, the destitute working-class residents are being forced to live without any shelter. They are also being immediately and forcibly removed from the area and being threatened with police action.

 *Despite the order of the Hon’ble Supreme Court on August 3rd, the Municipal Corporation of Faridabad has not provided any e-mail to the thousands of displaced residents to lodge complaints. No back office has been set up at Radha Swami Satsang Centre either.*

Most of those uprooted from Khori Gaon in the recent demolition exercise were working class citizens. These people had built their small houses with their hard-earned money or by taking loans or by selling the land and property in their ancestral villages. The residents have witnessed very stressful times starting from 14th July 2021. They have suffered physical injuries and mental torture. They have also been treated inhumanly and disrespectfully. After the lockdown enforced unemployment they were subjected to the brutal demolition exercise which has taken their homes away. Most residents are lying on the road or beside the remains of their demolished houses, some are living on rent while few are living with their relatives.

The Hon’ble Supreme Court in its order dated August 3 on page 4 had ordered that the Haryana Government should finalize the rehabilitation policy framed by the Municipal Corporation of Faridabad for the desolate residents of Khori Gaon till the next date of hearing.  Now since it is the Haryana Government itself looking after the entire policy, it is necessary that the historical injustice is recognized and corrected.

Rekha, Pinki and other residents of Pushpa have repeatedly sent letters to the Haryana government, the litigants have appealed to the government that the government should simplify the process of rehabilitation and it should be made more inclusive. Their consent should also be taken. Mainly, the scope of eligibility should be increased whereby any Voter ID card registered on any address, any documents of residence of Khori Gaon like family identity card, birth certificate, death certificate, marriage certificate, children's school admission papers, property papers, any of the land purchase Documents, ration card, banking account, etc. should be considered as the basis of rehabilitation.

 Everyone's house was demolished. Therefore, until there is proper rehabilitation for the people, there should be proper arrangements for food and shelter.

Due to the immediate eviction of thousands of families from Khori village, the rents of houses in the surrounding areas have increased rapidly. Therefore, rental allowance of houses should be made at least ₹ 5000 per family till proper rehabilitation is done.

*It has also been repeatedly told to the government that the flats of Dabua Colony of Faridabad being given for rehabilitation are in very bad condition. There is no security of any kind. No electricity and water too. Most of the flats do not even have any windows or doors.*

*The Supreme Court, in its order dated 7 June 2021, had ordered the removal of possession from the forest land. The court had left the rehabilitation to the state government. After demolition of more than 10,000 houses and more than lakh people in Khori Gaon, the Supreme Court should also keep similar strict orders regarding rehabilitation.*

*The Haryana government should issue an email to register complaints and set up a backup office on Radha Swami Satsang urgently.*

*Haryana government should prepare a rehabilitation policy which takes into consideration the historical injustices faced by the residents of Khori Gaon and caters to the needs of the suffering citizens.*

In Solidarity, Ishita Chatterjee, Neelesh Kumar (9313794336), Manju Menon , Vimal Bhai, {9718479517} and saathi

Concerned Citizens for Khori Gaon: National Alliance of People’s Movements