Nirma stir: Mahuva farmers to protest in Gandhinagar

While both the state government and the Opposition in the assembly are keeping mum over the controversy regarding Nirma's cement plant being set up on a water body near Mahuva, around 11,111 villagers will take out a march from Sabarmati Ashram to the state legislative assembly in Gandhinagar on February 25 to protest against setting up of the cement plant.

Nearly 15 villages and 50,000 people living near the place where the plant is to come up are likely to be affected. Gujarat Loksamiti under the leadership of Chunibhai Vaidya, veteran Gandhian, Ila Pathak, Prakash Shah, Sagar Rabari and Sanat Mehta has supported the people's movement being led by Dr. Kanubhai Kalsariya, a BJP MLA from Mahuva constituency. 

Gujarat Loksamiti has stated in a press statement released on Wednesday that despite the peaceful protest by the residents of the villages, they have been attacked several times.

The statement said that the state government has failed to take any action against the attackers and is in fact harassing people involved in the movement by filing false police cases against them.  "The state government must hear the voice of the people, who have decided not to give their land," said the statement.