MP tonsures to protest cargo hub

Newly-elected Member of Parliament from Ramtek constituency Prakash Jadhav on Monday carried out his threat and got his head tonsured at Shivangaon village in support of the villagers who are agitating against the proposed cargo hub project.

Several villagers, including two women, had earlier got their heads tonsured demanding more compensation and job guarantees from the state government.

The fiery Shiv Sena MP Prakash Jadhav had threatened on Sunday in support of the villagers. Leader of Opposition in the State Legislative Assembly, Ramdas Kadam and former MP Banwarilal Purohit were present at the public rally taken out before Jadhav tonsured. Jadhav said he would raise the demand in the Parliament.

Kadam invited Purohit to support the Sena in its campaigns. Both Kadam and Purohit had shown solidarity with the villagers but did not tonsure. Leading the movement for more compensation, Baba Dawre said the agitation will be intensified if the state government did not heed to the demands.

Many villagers are on a chain hunger strike at Shivangaon even as work on the Multi-modal International Cargo Hub project at Nagpur (MIHAN) and the annexed special economic zone (SEZ) is progressing at a furious pace.

Concrete roads are being laid and top companies are setting up offices ahead of starting construction.

Farm land at Shivangaon and several other villages were acquired over a year ago. There was simmering discontent among farmers when land rates outside the proposed MIHAN and SEZ project zoomed to new highs.

Recently a sitting High Court judge's family disposed off their property along Wardha Road for over Rs 2 crore an acre. The land rates have gone up after the project was announced and land acquisition process started for the same.

Notably, none of the leaders from the ruling Congress-NCP combine have supported the agitation. Many leaders have expressed regret at the woes of the farmers but claimed helplessness at the turn of events.

"Land rates have gone up after the project was announced and acquisition process initiated. It is true that the development agency, Maharashtra Airport Development Company (MADC) is offering land at Rs 44 lakh per acre to the industry within the SEZ. But this includes the cost of development and infrastructure," said a senior Congress leader.

Requesting anonymity he said those leading the agitation should also consider the aspect of the jobs the SEZ will generate.

"They should also consider the ready reckoner rate during acquisition," he said. Jadhav and others opposing the government diismissed the argument stating the ready reckoner rates were far from reality.

"The government should pay adequate compensation, promise suitable rehabilitation and provide jobs to wards of project-affected," said Purohit.