The protesters were expecting senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh, Uddhav Thackeray from Shiv Sena and Jaywant Patil from NCP to join them, but the trio did not turn up.
Adivasis and farmers from Palghar area who are protesting against the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project are irked with top leaders from various political parties, who promised support but did not turn up on Sunday to join their protest. The protesters were expecting senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh, Uddhav Thackeray from Shiv Sena and Jaywant Patil from NCP to join them, but the trio did not turn up.
"If the protest was organised by big private companies and international banks, all the top political leaders would have flocked for the event," said Ulka Mahajan, activist for farmers and member, Bullet Train Virodhi Janmanch.
The political parties lend their support via Congress local leader Kedar Kale, Sena's Neelam Gorhe and NCP's Nawab Malik who joined the protesters. Ramakant Patil, member, Bullet Train Virodhi Janmanch said: "These party representatives should clarify their stand if they come into power after 2019. They should stand shoulder to shoulder with farmers."
All the political leaders claimed in their speeches stated that their party opposed the Rs 1.08-lakh crore bullet train project. "I barely have two acre of land in which I grow rice. What will I do with lakhs of money promised by the government? I am uneducated and this agriculture land is our only source of income," said Maina Radhepadhi (33), farmer from Vanai pada. Nana Shinde (60), a villager from Jawahar grows rice, urad dal, and naachni in his 16- acre land. "We have been farmers for generations now. This land is a livelihood for 11 members of my family," Shinde said.
The local leaders claimed that the bullet train project will take away several acres of land from across 123 villages falling under Palghar district. "The authorities tell that they do not have money to build or repair hospitals, schools and aanganwadis but have crores of rupees on loan for this bullet train," said Brian Lobo another social activist there. Of the total 508-kms, 108-km of rail line for this project will come under Palghar for which 170 hectares of land will be needed. There are 123 villages and towns falling under Palghar district, which are more or less affected by land acquisition for this project.
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