Three farmers’ organizations, under the banner of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI-M], organized a protest rally, known as ‘Bidhansabha Abhiyan,’ in Agartala. The demonstration aimed to highlight the pressing need for uplifting the socio-economic status of farmers in the state.
Hundreds of farmers, representing the All India Kishan Sabha, Tripura Khet Mazdoor Union, and Tripura Rajya Ganamukti Parishad, participated in the rally, voicing their grievances against the government. The protesters embarked on the march from the Rabindra Satabarshiki Bhavan area, parading through the streets of the capital city while raising slogans against the ruling administration.
The primary demand of the agitators was an increase in the minimum support price (MSP) for agricultural produce, considering the mounting input costs faced by farmers. They also drew attention to the issue of mounting debt among various categories of farmers, particularly small, marginal, middle, and tenant farmers, which they attributed to unfair MSPs coupled with rising input costs.
Pabitra Kar, a prominent CPI-M leader, led the rally and strongly criticized the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led coalition government. Kar alleged that the ruling government in Tripura had neglected the agriculture sector and failed to improve the income of farmers throughout its five-year tenure.
The protest encompassed a 15-point charter of demands put forth by the farmers’ organizations. The key demands included the resumption and adequate implementation of employment schemes such as the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) and Tripura Urban Employment Programme (TUEP). The organizations also called for an increase in the establishment of paddy procurement centers, encompassing the Autonomous District Council (ADC) areas of the state. Other demands included wage hikes for agricultural workers, government assistance for housing construction for landless and homeless farming families, empowering the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) under the 6th Schedule of the 125th amendment act, and the inclusion of the Kok-Borok language in the 8th Schedule of the Constitution.
The police intervened near the North Gate area to prevent the protesters from submitting their memorandum to the Chief Minister at the Assembly, leading to a temporary halt in the rally. The farmers’ organizations remain steadfast in their commitment to advocating for the welfare and betterment of farmers in Tripura.
