Demand to Chief Minister for Return of Illegally Acquired Farmland – Uma Ballav Rath
Puri, 23/04 – On the occasion of Akshaya Tritiya, members of the Vedanta University Opposition Struggle Committee conducted the traditional “Akhi Muthi Anukula” ritual by ploughing the farmland in Chhaitana Mouza near Balighai Chhak. The land in question was previously acquired for Vedanta University, but the Supreme Court, in a landmark ruling, declared the acquisition illegal and in violation of the Land Acquisition Act. The court instructed the state government to return the land to the farmers.
After the verdict, farmers began reclaiming their rights by ploughing their ancestral land and performing rituals. Uma Ballav Rath, convener of the committee, said that a formal demand would soon be submitted to the Chief Minister urging him to ensure that the illegally acquired land is returned to the rightful owners.
For over 15 years, these farmers had been deprived of government support, including assistance for crop loss, access to agricultural loans, and the right to sell their produce in mandis. Even more concerning, the ownership of their land had been transferred to the Anil Agarwal Foundation, taking away their legal rights. The movement to reclaim the land is not only about property but also about dignity and justice.
Early in the morning, under the leadership of Uma Ballav Rath and committee president Damodar Pradhan, hundreds of farmers began ploughing the land. Before that, a coconut-breaking ritual and prayers were held on the field. After the ceremony, a gathering was organized at the Beldal Cyclone Shelter, where discussions took place regarding the future course of action.
Addressing the farmers, Uma Ballav Rath criticized the state government’s alleged collusion with Anil Agarwal, accusing them of handing over sacred land belonging to Lord Jagannath and poor laborers to Vedanta University at extremely low rates. He stated that such blatant and illegal land transfers have no precedent in Indian history.
Several leaders and members of farmers’ organizations attended the event and expressed their support for the ongoing struggle. They emphasized that the movement would continue until the government restores ownership rights to the affected farmers, and a formal petition would be sent to the Chief Minister demanding justice.
