Around 10,000 people marched towards Azad Maidan in Mumbai on January 16, 2021 in support of India’s farmers battling the three agriculture laws forcibly passed by the central government.
A mammoth number of supporters walked from Islam Gym to the protest point at the call of a coalition of people’s and peasant’s organisations such as Mumbai Aman Committee, All India Ulema Council, Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP,) the Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana (SSS,) the National Alliance of People’s Movements, Hum Bharat ke Log, the All India Banjara Samaj, the Chhatrapati Sambhaji Brigade and many others.
Farmer’s protest at Azad maidan.#mumbaiwithfarmers#farmersprotest pic.twitter.com/JNjg3FaS05
— Aamir Aziz (@AamirAzizJmi) January 16, 2021
Organisations put up “Mumbai with Farmers” hoardings all over the city for mass mobilisation from 2 PM to 4 PM.
CJP Secretary and renowned journalist Teesta Setalvad congratulated the farmers near Delhi for awakening the people of India. She reminded attendees at Azad Maidan every Indian citizen needs to stand united in this struggle for food security and people’s rights because farmers.
“Farmers, who put all their efforts in the land are all too aware of what happens when agriculture is corporatized. Our farmers are adivasis (indigenous people,) Dalits, OBCs, Muslims, Sikhs and Christians. And so, we need to stand together,” said Setalvad.
She added that the farmers protests on the “borders” of the capital, Delhi was historic as it poses a political challenge to the policies of the regime. Punjab farmers who challenged the British with the Pagdi Sambhal Jatha in the late 1800s are today challenging the 21st century version of neo colonisation.
Similarly, SSS Founder Raju Shetti applauded the assembled Mumbaikars for promising their solidarity with farmers.
“They call us annadaatas. But these annadaatas have been forced at the border of Delhi like beggars for near two months now. India’s farmer cannot enter the national capital to assert his own right. What Independence is this? For whom is it?” said Shetti.
Speaking exclusively to SabrangIndia, Shetti said that the three laws have been thrown upon farmers under the false claim that farmers themselves demanded these laws. Instead of these laws, he said that farmers want the legalisation of Minimum Support Price (MSP) that it not accessible to all farmers.
He warned that the government was spreading a false narrative that this is a farmers’ struggle when in reality both farmers and poor people would suffer under these laws due to its impact on food security.
When asked whether the government was likely to listen to farmers, Shetti said that the alternative would lead to results similar to 1980s when former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi tried to silence farmers.
Along with state leaders, three farmer leaders from Punjab Amarjit Singh, Mukesh Chandar Sharma and Jangbir Singh Chauhan also attended the Saturday protest in decrying the three laws and demanding the rights of farmers.
Leaders thanked the people of Mumbai for assembling in the “economic capital” of India and showing Prime Minister Narendra Modi that every state in India opposed the three laws as opposed to the false narrative of it being a Punjab-Haryana agitation.
“This is the country’s struggle. [Union Home Minister] Amit Shah kept making laws as per your wishes. We kept silent. But now that 78 percent of people’s lives are under threat, then the entire nation has stood against you. You are stealing food from the poor!” said one of the leaders.
They also condemned the government for selling public sector undertakings to the private sectors.
Some of the organisations that participated in the Saturday event are listed below:
1. Mumbai Aman Committee
2. Chhatrapati Sambhaji Brigade
3. National Alliance of People’s Movements
4. All India Ulema Council, Mumbai
5. Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind
6. Citizen for Justice and Peace
7. Jamiatul Ulema Ahle Sunnat
8. Movement for Human Welfare
9. All India Banjara Samaj
10. Subai Jamiat Ahle Hadees, Mumbai
11. Jamaat e Islami Hind
12. All India Majlis e Mashwerat
13. Kamgar Sanghatna Sanyukt Kruti Smiti
14. Hum Bharat Ke Log
15. Panjabi Sanjhi Sabha
16. Jan Andolanachi Sangharch Samiti
17. Milli Council
18. Guru Singh Sabha
19. Teachers Democratic Front
20. Yuva Kranti Sabha
21. National Christian Forum.
22. Ghar bacho ghar banao andolan.
23. Akhil bhartiya Obc Mahasabha.
24. Sadbhavna Sangh
25. Sambhaji Brigade Paksha
26. Janasena Samajik Sanstha
27. Sanvidhanvadi Republican Paksha
28. Republic Yuva Sena.
29. Manav Uddhar Samajik Sanstha
30. Bhartiya Aatma Sanghthana
31. Youth Wing JIH Maharashtra
32. Professional Solidarity Forum
33. Ham Bhartiya Mira Bhayandar
34. Mujtama e Olama wo Khotaba, Mumbai
35. Mahfil e Sani e Zahra (s.a.), Zaib Palace, Mumbai
36. Kisan Morcha All Kurla Committee
37. Bhartiya Bodh Mahasabha Kurla
38. Kurla Voice
39. Mulbhut Adhikar Sangharsh Samiti.
40. Rashtra Seva Dal-Mumbai
41. Students Islamic Organisation of India, Mumbai
42. Hadana Education and Welfare Trust (India)
43. Lokanchi Shakti Jogeshwari West
44. Kamgar Ekta Committee
45. Siri Guru Harrai Charitable Trust
46. ACBS Initiative
47. Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj Vichaar Manch
48. Lok Hind Party
49. Lok Sangharsha Morcha
50. Swaraj Abhiyan
51. Satyashodhak Shetkari Sabha
52. Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana
53. Aam Aadmi Sarva Shramik Sanghatan
Related:
Jai Kisan, say veteran jawans now stationed on Delhi’s borders in solidarity with farmers
Farmers organisations begin maintaining record of the fallen
Jan 15 talks inconclusive: Centre and farmers remain at loggerheads
Maharashtra organisations declare protests marches from Jan 23-25
Women farmers, students write open letter against SC’s comment on women farmers
BKU President Bhupinder Singh Mann quits SC-nominated Committee for farm laws