Farmers Protest: Eight Go on Indefinite Fast in Noida Over Land Being Acquired

Some farmers in Noida have launched an indefinite fast to press for their demands.  These farmers demand for enhanced compensation in lieu of their land acquired by the Noida Authority over the years.  

After more than two weeks of sit-in demonstration, scores of farmers, under the banner of ''Kisan Astitva Bachao Andolan'', are protesting outside the authority office in Sector 6. Among them, some farmers launched the indefinite fast on Monday. 

Sukhveer Singh, convenor of the Andolan said to a news agency PTI, "They have not shown any seriousness towards resolving our issues. The ethics have died. That is why we resorted to indefinite strike."  

Sukhveer Singh is among eight farmers who are on the indefinite fast. He said, “Throughout Tuesday there has been no communication between the protestors and the officials over the issue. It's already been 36 hours and we are outside the authority office. There has been no correspondence of any kind. They don't care about our issues."  

Adding to it, there was no response by the Noida Authority to telephone calls and text messages by PTI. 

The demand of farmers is of residential plots 10% the size of the total land that was acquired from them by the authority post 2002. Besides, they also want an increased monetary compensation for the acquired land. 

The protestors, including those from Behlolpur, Sarfabad, Hoshiarpur and other villages of Noida, want a college and a play field to be developed in Sector 123. 

However, on February 21, a meeting was held between top officials and the protesters inside the Noida Authority office but it failed to find a consensus.