Bihar farmers refuse to cut their crop prematurely for PM's function

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's function to unveil some Railway projects on March 12 in Hajipur in Bihar was on Friday shifted to a new venue following farmers' refusal to cut their crop prematurely in a 60 acre field in Sultanpur village, chosen as venue of the programme earlier.

"The PM function would now be held at Chhokia village," District Magistrate Rachna Patil told PTI. The farmers are refusing to prematurely cut their wheat crop which would be ready soon.

The DM said 80 acres at Chhokia village under Ganga bridge police station was on Friday finalised as the new venue for the PM's function on next Saturday.

The new spot for PM's function is about 6 km away from the previously chosen one at Sultanpur village under Hajipur Industrial Area police station in Bihar's Vaishali district.

East Central Railway Chief Public Relations Officer Arvind Kumar Rajak, who had gone to the Chhokia village earlier in the day for the PM's programme, also confirmed it as the final venue.

Bharatiya Janata Party Member of Parliament from Ujiyarpur Nityanand Rai appears to have helped in choosing the new venue as the land there belongs to his supporters.

The DM said apart from the farmers' protest, the other reason for changing the venue was to accommodate more people at the function. Modi's programme during the Lok Sabha elections had taken place at Sultanpur village.

The PM is scheduled to dedicate the Digha-Sonepur rail-cum road bridge, besides the new railway bridge at Munger at a function to be hosted by ECR on March 12.

The PM might also flag off few trains at the function where Railway minister Suresh Prabhu and his deputy Manoj Sinha would also participate. Besides the railway programme, the prime minister would attend the closing function of centenary celebration of the Patna high court on the same day at capital Patna.