'Farmers will vote, not join campaign'
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, March 19 2024:
Irabot Foundation Manipur has asserted that the farmers will only exercise their franchise rights and not take part in election campaigns for the upcoming Lok Sabha election if the state government fails to provide the special package sanctioned by the Centre to the food producers.
Addressing media persons at Manipur Press Club, here, on Tuesday, Foundation president Kh Gopen Luwang said that since the state government has not disbursed the special package sanctioned by the Centre to farmers affected by the ethnic crisis, there is no point in taking part in the election process.
The farmers need not take part in election campaigns or rejoice over ticket allotment to candidates.
They (farmers) only need to come out on the day of voting and exercise their franchise rights, he reiterated.
Pointing out that the crisis lingering for the last 10 months has seriously affected agriculture, veterinary, sericulture, horticulture and fishery sectors, he lamented that with exception of meagre compensation provided to the agricultural sector, the state government has not made any effort to revive sectors equally hit hard by the crisis.
The president also regretted that amid farmers in Manipur experiencing hardships, political parties are trying to woo the farmers under the garb of democracy.