Farmers set Aug 15 deadline for SIR notification withdrawal

The 44 villages that will be affected by the Mandal-Becharaji Special Investment Region (SIR) are mulling their plan of action after the government refused to withdraw a notification regarding the same. They, however, are waiting for the August 15 deadline given by chief minister Narendra Modi to expire before continuing with the protest.

“The CM had promised us that he would make an announcement on August 15 about the withdrawal of the SIR notification. The cabinet, meanwhile, is calling us for meetings, trying to convince us that villages that do not want to be part of SIR can opt out of it. We are not buying this carrot as we smell a rat,” said Hasmukh Patel, a resident of Vicchan village in Mandal taluka.

Patel and five others recently had a meeting with Saurabh Patel and Anandiben Patel in which the government reiterated its stand that it would not withdraw the SIR notification.
“We have faith in the CM but not his cabinet. He had promised to make an announcement regarding SIR on August 15 and we will wait till that time before deciding on future course of action,” said Patel. Sagar Rabari of Jameen Vikas Adhikari Andolan said that they will have a meeting on Friday to decide the strategy on the matter. “But whatever protest and ground action is to take place will happen after August 15,” said Rabari.