RAIPUR: Chhattisgarh Kisan Mazdoor Mahasangh, an umbrella organisation of over 22 bodies of farmers and workers has strongly protested against the participation of Bhartiya Kisan Sangh (BKS), a farmers’ body cited to be affiliated to Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) as one of the organisers in a two-day workshop.
The event ‘Sankalp Se Siddhi’ is aimed at securing instant, sustainable income for farmers through commercial agriculture showcases. The workshop is being jointly organised by Indira Gandhi Agriculture University, Agriculture Vigyan Kendra and Bhartiya Kisan Sangh on August 26-27 at Raipur.
“It’s a government programme. Why should the RSS frontal body BKS be allowed to be one of the organisers? It appears the RSS trying to push their agenda even in agriculture sector and exhibitions”, charged Sanket Thakur, the convener of Chhattisgarh Kisan Mazdoor Mahasangh.
The University sources cited that this event is to share techniques and developments in the field of agriculture. “We invite various farmers organisations to get benefitted from our university. Since BKS has requested to be part of the programme in the interest of the state we accepted that. It’s open to all bodies of farmers”, said the senior public relation officer of the university K K Sahu. The state president of BKS Suresh Chandravanshi could not be reached for his remarks.
Chhattisgarh Pragatisheel Kisan Sangathan, too objected the RSS-affiliate body organising the event with the state government. “The event is being held at the taxpayers money. We have no issues if BKS gets invitation to participate but how could the taxpayers money be misused by allowing it to be one of the key organizers of government programme?”, Rajkumar Gupta, the coordinator of Sangathan told the New Indian Express.
Gupta, who is also a lawyer, said that his organisation will register a police complaint and take to legal course against the event if the event goes ahead. The event will be inaugurated by the chief minister Raman Singh on Saturday and attended by agriculture minister Brijmohan Agrawal, organising sectary of BKS Dinesh Kulkarni, senior party leaders and the academicians related to agriculture.