Meerut, 11 June (HS): Capitalism is

fast gaining traction in the country, and small farmers' lands are being turned

over to industrialists, Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) national spokesperson Rakesh

Tikait said on Wednesday. He warned that if such a handover, which he claims

was done with the collaboration of government officials, is not halted, his

organization will initiate an agitation. Tikait made the statements while

visiting the family of Manohar Kushwaha, a farmer who died on Monday from

injuries incurred when jumping from an electric tower. His family has claimed

that Manohar scaled the tower on Sunday to protest the measuring of his land. After

meeting with the family, Tikait informed reporters that the country is now

producing cheap laborers and homeless farmers.

The BKU leader said that land

measuring was carried out despite a high court injunction, and Kushwaha was

driven to suicide. Tikait accused the

state and businessmen of conspiring to take impoverished farmers' land. According to BKU district president Anurag

Chaudhary, the farmers have met with Divisional Commissioner Hrishikesh Bhaskar

Yashod and requested a probe into the incident.

Yashod has subsequently appointed an investigating commission, led by

Additional Divisional Commissioner Amit Kumar, with a report due within a

month. Tikait also visited with District Magistrate Dr VK Singh at the

Collectorate, requesting urgent financial aid and government benefits for

Manohar Kushwaha's family.

Hindusthan Samachar / Abhishek Awasthi