Vidarbha farmers and widows join Bharat Bandh, organise protests

20 September, 2012

Cotton growers and farm widows in eastern Maharashtra's Vidarbha region have joined the ongoing nationwide bandh against the Indian government's decision of allowing 51 percent foreign direct investment (FDI) in multi-brand retail sector.

VJAS ORGANISED the protest at villages, Hiwara and Moha under the leadership of Vidarbha Farm Widows' Association convener, Bebitai Bais and farm activists Suresh Bolenwar, Mohan Jadhav, Kavitha Kudmethe, Tulsiram Mandhare and others alleging thousands farmers suicide cases have happened in the cotton growing region of Vidarbha due to the state's pro-MNC policies.

VJAS leader Kishore Tiwari said the latest reforms proposed by the Indian Government such as allowing 51 percent FDI in multi-brand retail sector, along with the hike in diesel prices and subsidy cuts, would pave way for MNCs to obtain control over the entire agrarian economy of the country.

“The Development Model by giving total control of agriculture and total rural economy in the hands of few MNCs is very serious issue. We want national debate over prevailing distress and despair, coupled with mounting debt and failure of social and economical system. Hence we protest FDI in retail,” Tiwari said.

He said Vidarbha is a perfect example that shows how allowing foreign investments in agriculture inputs allows MNCs to build monopolies, giving rise to unfair trade practices like cartelization. “Over 9,000 farmers have committed suicide since 2005 when American MNC Monsanto was allowed to take over the region's cotton economy. Following continuous and strong opposition, the Maharashtra government ultimately agreed to ban Bt cotton in the region,” Mr. Tiwari said.

The government's latest decision makes way for entry of MNCs like Tesco, Walmart and Carrefour in the Indian business space, which would further intensify the agrarian crisis, which on an average has caused one farmer to commit suicide every eight hours, he added. Mr. Tiwari said the proposed reforms would prove to be the last stroke on the farmers, which would annihilate them in such a manner that they would never be able to recover.

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ajit vadakayil

Hi, Every patriotic Indian who can understand simple English must read this. Punch into google search- MODERN ECONOMICS, AN EMPIRICAL VULGAR PSEUDO SCIENCE- CAPT AJIT VADAKAYIL Adam Smith the supreme god of economists , was a THIEF who lifted French economist and banker, Richard Cantillon?s work. Adam Smith , the holy cow, was a CRIMINAL AND MURDERER who killed 120 lakhs ( 10.2 million ) Bengalis in 1769. See some gruesome pictures of the sunk holocaust. Adam Smith , the crypto agent, was an employed by British East India Company as the one man think tank-- BEIC financiers are now back to India for FDI in multibrand retail. History always repeats itself?this is why we learn history. On the Dec 20, 2004 letter, the FAM?s foreign trade committee chairman Chandrakant T. Shanghvi said that Manmohan Singh had categorically told a delegation of the traders? body that ?we should not permit FDI in retail trade? India does not require the kind of reforms which would, rather than creating employment, destroy employment?. So now it is the Italian Queen Beee who wants it, right ? DORKS and angrez ka aulads in Indian internet disguise ?keep away. Capt ajit vadakayil ..