Aggrieved farmers staged a protest under the leadership of the Bharatiya Kisan Union and Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit on Wednesday 9 March, against the alleged forced takeover of their land in the Yamuna floodplains for the World Culture Festival, being organised by the Art of Living Foundation (AOL).
Farmers of Chilla village, which falls in the demarcated floodplains, have been opposing the AOL event since 19 February. But with the World Culture festival two days away, the protesting farmers and their supporters, approximately 100 people, took to fasting to grab attention.
Dikshit, who spoke with The Quint, questioned the relevance of the festival. He said the Art of Living Foundation is cheating people in the name of cleaning the Yamuna. The former MP from East Delhi said it is unheard of for private entities to set about making bio-diversity parks.
If such a park is to be made, the DDA is the correct body to do so. Dikshit said the Yamuna floodplains are not anyone’s private property and the floodplains is already a DDA-declared bio-diversity park.
On the deployment of Army personnel, Dikshit said it is a disturbing thought that the armed forces can be used for private functions.
The Congress leader said that though the local farmers have been protesting against the festival for quite some time, there have been attempts to influence them with gifts and money.
Former Patparganj MLA Anil Kumar of the Congress has also been threatened over the phone, said Dikshit. The farmers who are on fast said Delhi Police personnel had taken away 7-10 of their compatriots.
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)