Farmers in Bihar stage dharna against land acquisition

Patna, May 22(UNI)Taking a cue from West Bengal,the farmers in Bihar today staged a dharna here to protest the acquisition of their land by the state government for proposed industrialisation.

Demanding suitable compensation and separate plots of land for constructing new homes, the agitated farmers under the banner of 'Ekta Parishad', a non governmental organisation,sat on dharna since morning.

Shouting anti-government slogans they lambasted the authorities for forcibly acquiring their land without providing any alternative accommodation.

Seeking an immediate stay on further use of agricultural land for non agricultural purposes, the agitating farmers also demanded suitable steps to ensure that those who had already lost their land were given possession of new plots.

''In support of our demands we will undertake a peaceful padyatra to New Delhi on October two coinciding with the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi,'' a spokesman of the agitating farmers said.

UNI