BJP organises unique protest by sowing paddy seeds on road

Kolkata, Feb 7 (UNI) In a unique way to protest the Left Front government's ''anti-farmer'' policy at Singur, BJP workers today sowed paddy on a makeshift field on a city street, generating amusement for the general public.

Led by BJP West Bengal state Secretary Rahul Singh, about 1500 party workers marched from the state party headquarters here to the Esplanade area in downtown Kolkata at around 1500 hours to sow the paddy in a maskeshift field to the amusement of thousands of onlookers.

Describing the unique protest, also the first of its kind perhaps anywhere in the world, Mr Sinha later said through this 'symbolic act' they not only wanted to draw greater public attention towards the ''faulty'' industrial policy of the state government, but also to send their message to the ruling parties about the stance on the issue.

Coming down heavily the CPI-M led ruling Left Front for resorting to an ''uncompromising'' stance on the issue of acquisition of farm land for industrial purposes in several places like Singur and Nandigram in Hooghly and East Midnapore districts, the BJP state General Secretary said the present situation had virtually left no other option for hapless farmers in the state ''but to sow seeds on streets, instead of on farm land.'' If the government failed to take any corrective action even after such protest, the party would launch further statewide agitation which would continue for a month, Mr Sinha warned.

Meanwhile, the BJP has announced its march to Singur programme violating the prevailing prohibitory order under section 144 CRPC on February 15.

UNI