Farmers held Mahapanchayats on Saturday in the city and at Nandigram, where CM Mamata Banerjee is in the fray.
Do not vote for the BJP, farmer leader Rakesh Tikait told supporters at the 'Kisan Mahapanchayat' in West Bengal on Saturday. Asking people to defeat the BJP in the upcoming West Bengal assembly elections, Tikait also accused the BJP of causing injury to CM Mamata Banerjee's leg.
Rakesh Tikait of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU), Balbir Singh Rajewal, Gurnam Singh Chaduni and Yudhvir Singh were among Samyukta Kisan Morcha leaders who landed in Kolkata for the 'Kisan Mahapanchayat' on Saturday. The farmer leaders are expected to address similar public meetings in Singur and Asansol on Sunday.
An umbrella body of over 40 farmers' unions, the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) has planned public meetings across the country to campaign against the BJP.
Activist Medha Patkar also shared the stage with farmer leaders and told supporters that the BJP will "divide their land" if they win the Nandigram seat.
Speaking at the Ramlila Maidan, Medha Patkar said the BJP is receiving huge amounts as donations from corporates in the form of electoral bonds.
Addressing the Kisan Mahapachayat in Kolkata, Rakesh Tikait urged his supporters to vote for candidates who can defeat the BJP. This, he said, will put more pressure on the central government to repeal the three agriculture reform laws.
Without naming Suvendu Adhikari of the BJP, Rakesh Tikait criticised political leaders who switch parties ahead of elections.
"If people are getting crops at the right price at the MSP then don't listen [to me]. If they are selling crops at Rs 1,850 then do not vote. There should be a law on MSP. The farmers here too should sell crops at MSP," Tikait told reporters.
Activist Medha Patkar commenced her speech by giving out a call for "amader gram Nandigram" (our village is Nandigram). As the crowd chanted with her, Patkar said Nandigram is the land of struggle.
"Ask the farmers of Gujarat and how potato farmers were tricked by PEPSI and left in the lurch later," Medha Patkar said.
Taking aim at BJP leaders, she adds, "Whatever Suvendu Adhikari or Kailash Vijaywargiya tells you, ask them what Ambani and Adani earn."
(With inputs from agencies)