Mizo farmers up in arms against corruption

Aizawl, Apr 19 (UNI) Thousands of farmers took to the streets here today staging an 'anti-corruption' rally.

A large number of people from far-flung rural villages assembled under the umbrella of Zoram Kut Hnathawktu Pawl (Mizoram farmers' association) to protest ''rampant corruption'' in the state.

''The poor farmers have had enough of our corrupt politicians,'' the farmers' leaders said in the rally criticising the present steps taken by the government for the people of the state.

The rally started at 1100 hrs from Chanmari junction here and covered all the main streets of the state capital.

They shouted slogans,''We want rice, not turmeric'' slamming the government's decision to cultivate turmeric in large scale.

The state is also facing a scarcity in rice production currently.

'Give us markets to sell our products. Give us our share from the Central funds,'' they demanded.

The farmers also wanted to know what the government had done with the funds that the Central government had sanctioned for ''Bamboo Flowering and Famine Combat Scheme'' (Baffacos).

''Several Governments have come and gone, but all of them have failed to address the farmers' demands. We have always been deprived of our shares from the Centre because of corrupt politicians here,'' the farmers said.

Founded last year at Saitual, the Zoram Kut Hnathawktu Pawl has grown into a state-wide organisation within a short span of time.

UNI