Making amends: 500 farmers to cheer F1 from the stands

New Delhi: India’s inaugural Formula One race at the Buddh International Circuit better be prepared to see some action from farmers. As expected, they will not be picketing the event or shouting slogans against unkept promises of compensation for their land. Some 20-odd farmers staged a rather creative protest on Saturday by playing the traditional sport Kabbadi close to the F1 venue. They were detained briefly by the police before being let off later in the day. But expect to see more kisan action – not of the protest variety - from the stands. “About 500-odd farmers from about seven villages whose land was acquired to build the F1 track have been given passes so that they can watch the race,” said Virander Dadha, a farmer leader who has called off the farmer agitation connected with land acquired for the F1 track, for the time being. He added that the Kabbadi protest was staged by another farmers group and was not likely to be repeated today. The farmers from ten villages, whose land had been acquired for the race track, had earlier this month threatened to start an agitation in the run-up to the race. Dadha reasons, “India will get a bad name if we agitate at an international event. So we have decided to wait for the F1 event to be over before we restart our agitation.” Dadha, however, added that he will not be attending the event.  Suvan, a farmer from Atta Gujran village, who was spearheading the agitation against the F1 track, confirmed that farmers from his village had indeed received passes for the race. “About six or seven farmers from our village have been given passes. It is possible that some of the farmers will go to watch it.” However, it remains unclear who the benefactor of the passes is. While spokesperson of Jaypee Group (promoters of the F1 race) didn’t seem to be aware of farmers being invited, he was quick to praise them for their support in making the F1 race possible. Officials of the Yamuna Expressway Authority, which is responsible for acquisition of land for projects along the Delhi-Agra Yamuna Expressway, along which the F1 track is situated, too denied knowledge of farmers being given passes. Well, the benefactor, whoever it may, has managed to get some of the farmers to bury the hatchet. Atleast, till Lady Gaga leaves town, that is.