The district administration had to face a tough time persuading farmers to clear their cultivable land for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s rally, which is to be held on March 12. Farmers of Hajipur stopped administrative officials on Thursday while they were inspecting the location for the Prime Minister’s rally.
“Despite repeated requests, these farmers are not ready to cut their crop and they have even threatened to protest if we put pressure on them. We have informed our seniors about the situation and we will wait for their directions,” a senior district-level official said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is to visit Bihar on March 12 for the first time after the Assembly elections and will also hold a rally in Hajipur, which is around 30 kilometres from the state capital Patna. According to sources, efforts are also being made to use influence of political leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party to persuade farmers.
A source said farmers have even refused compensation which was offered to them by the district administration on Thursday. According to a farmer Ram Baran Singh, “We will never ever let them cut our crops and they cannot force us to do it. We don’t need their compensation.”
Farmers said that the administration had taken their lands for Prime Minister’s public meeting during Assembly election campaign last year but their crops were completely destroyed and the compensation they got from the administration was not enough to cover the loss.
“This time also, they are trying to lure us by promising compensation, but we are not ready. We will not let them destroy our crops once again,” a farmer added.
