Assam:
A massive land reform movement is gathering momentum in rural Assam. With the violent land struggle sweeping the Indian heartland, landless farmers in Assam coming together is making the government uneasy.
"This land is ours. We want freedom for landless farmers exploited by the capitalists." This is an unusual land reform movement in Sadiya gathering momentum.
Akhil Gogoi, who shot to fame with his RTI success stories, has started a foot march across Assam from Sadiya to Dhubri. Over the next three years his morcha, Krishak Sangram Samiti, will travel through every village in the state to mobilise support for their demands.
"By 2015 the government will have to bring land reform, give 12 bighas of land to all landless farmers and 100% irrigation. Whoever is in government, Congress, or AGP or BJP, we won't let them get away till they meet our demands," says Akhil Gogoi.
Gogoi's rhetoric is dangerously familiar. His growing mass base is threatening the establishment. Land reform, NREGA job cards for all and opposition to big dams in Arunachal Pradesh are some of Gogoi's demands.
There is an overwhelming support for Akhil Gogoi's ideology. "We have left our home to join this struggle for the sake of the country which has been taken over by corrupt forces" says Harendra Chandra Deka, a resident of Assam.
Gogoi started his march from the erstwhile ULFA heartland, Sadiya. Taking on the establishment as well as the forces that once challenged the government. With legitimate demands and peaceful method, this movement could well take on the shape of an uprising.
"This land is ours. We want freedom for landless farmers exploited by the capitalists." This is an unusual land reform movement in Sadiya gathering momentum.
Akhil Gogoi, who shot to fame with his RTI success stories, has started a foot march across Assam from Sadiya to Dhubri. Over the next three years his morcha, Krishak Sangram Samiti, will travel through every village in the state to mobilise support for their demands.
"By 2015 the government will have to bring land reform, give 12 bighas of land to all landless farmers and 100% irrigation. Whoever is in government, Congress, or AGP or BJP, we won't let them get away till they meet our demands," says Akhil Gogoi.
Gogoi's rhetoric is dangerously familiar. His growing mass base is threatening the establishment. Land reform, NREGA job cards for all and opposition to big dams in Arunachal Pradesh are some of Gogoi's demands.
There is an overwhelming support for Akhil Gogoi's ideology. "We have left our home to join this struggle for the sake of the country which has been taken over by corrupt forces" says Harendra Chandra Deka, a resident of Assam.
Gogoi started his march from the erstwhile ULFA heartland, Sadiya. Taking on the establishment as well as the forces that once challenged the government. With legitimate demands and peaceful method, this movement could well take on the shape of an uprising.
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