News Analysis
The hunger strike launched by progressive farmer and district’s pride Gregory Patrao
in front of the DC office, has completed two weeks. But it is a tragedy that the state
government which rose to power in the name of the farmer has so far not responded
in any manner to the demands put forth by this farmer, providing evidence to its
insensitivity in such important matters.
The fact that Gregory as an anti-SEZ activist, is a representative and a voice of the
farers and the lay men of the coastal district, has to sit on a hunger strike for days
together weathering all storms, also reveals the failure of our very system.
Had the Mangalore MP Nalin Kumar Kateel who visited Gregory at the hunger strike
venue along with the Pejawar seer, been truly against SEZ, then he should have joined
Gregory in his hunger strike at least for a day. District Minister Krishna Palemar however
has not bothered to visit the place so far.
That Gregory’s entire family after losing its ancestral home, animal shelter and all its
belongings in the inhuman operation of the KIADB, has to remain on streets, has also
exposed the true colour of the BJP government.
After all Gregory is not asking for the moon. He is only asking the right to live in a place
where his ancestors had lived, until the legal battle waged by him against the acquisition
of his agricultural land, is settled in the court. There is nothing unnatural in his demand.
When the High Court ruling in his case has not yet reached his hands, Gregory’s demand
that the government will have to wait until his court case was settled is justifiable.
Even the other three demands placed forth by Gregory are rightful-that the authorities
should unconditionally return to him all the belongings of his family that were seizeed
during the operation, that all cases filed by the cops against those who backed him and
his family be dropped and that action should be taken against officials responsible for
taking away his belongings. A new chapter has been opened in the history of the region
with as many as 30 organizations supporting Gregory in his fight for justice.
The conscience of the entire coastal district as far as the SEZ is concerned is revealed
through the Gregory incident. The people of the district have raised one voice for
Gregory as well as the farmers who have lost their land for the SEZ.
The Yeddyurappa government which is time and again saying there would be no forcible
land acquisition for SEZ, but was acting contrarily, should be courteous enough to hear
the voices of the people and translate his words into action.
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