Farmers will stay away from polls: IFM
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, March 19 2024:
The Irabot Foundation Manipur (IFM) has categorically stated that the farmers of the State would stay away from the 18th Lok Sabha elections until and unless all their rights are secured and a special package is given to them.
Speaking to media persons at Manipur Press Club here today, IFM president Kh Gopen Luwang said that the people of Manipur have been suffering extreme misery for the past 11 months.
On account of the protracted violence, farmers engaged in agricultural and other allied activities including fishery have incurred heavy losses, he said.
Although a small compensation has been sanctioned for farmers who could not cultivate paddy last year, no such compensation has been sanctioned as yet for farmers engaged in horticulture, sericulture, fishery etc, Gopen said.
Even before the protracted violent crisis, farmers were facing several issues like Covid-19 restrictions, floods and droughts.
Until and unless a special package is sanctioned for the farmers, it would be hard for the State to tide over the present economic woes, he said.
Until and unless a special package is sanctioned, farmers of the State would/must stay from the Lok Sabha elections, the IFM president asserted.
It is a matter of grave concern that the upcoming Lok Sabha election has been made the central issue while the woes and suffering of the victims of the violent crisis and the farmers are being marginalised, he said.
Although there was unity among the people at the height of the violence, the upcoming election has started polarising the people.
This is unacceptable to the IFM, he said.
Pointing out that HSLC Exam 2024 is going on at present, he appealed to all political parties to restrain their election campaigns, and refrain from polarising the farmers.