The All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) has appealed to all voters to participate in a big way in the 2024 General Elections crucial for protecting the Constitution, the secular, democratic and federal character of India, and put an end to the corporate, communal and dictatorial rule of BJP. The AIKS has appealed to the people to vote and ensure the victory of the Left and Democratic forces in the elections.
“We call upon the people, especially the farmers and workers to support the Left Democratic Front candidates in Kerala and the INDIA alliance candidates in other States to ensure a secular democratic union government in power,” states the press note issued today.
“Change of government is imperative to ensure policy change and implementation of pro-farmer, pro-worker measures like legally guaranteed MSP@C2+50%, statutory minimum wage, ensuring employment as a constitutional right, social security, pension and repeal of the four Labour Codes. This will only be possible by increasing the strength of the Left and Democratic forces in the Parliament. “
Besides, an increased and dominant presence of left and democratic members in the Parliament will work as a corrective force to ensure that the new government will act without compromising with the corporate forces.
AIKS has reminded the people that the MS Swaminathan Commission report was submitted in 2006 when the UPA-I government was in power but the recommendation of legally guaranteed MSP@C2+50% was not implemented by both the first and second UPA governments till 2014. This was one of the main reasons for the agrarian crisis that made the farmers and rural poor desert the then ruling Congress in the 2014 General Election.
Likewise, the Modi Government enacted the four labour codes in the Parliament with the support of the Congress that denied the statutory rights of the workers for 8 hours work, minimum wage, job security, pension and right to unionise and strike.
Now, in 2024, the Congress manifesto has finally assured the implementation of M S Swaminathan Commission recommendations on MSP. However, it is only consistent struggles by the united platforms of farmers and workers along with the strong presence of the Left and Democratic forces in the Parliament only will guarantee the enforcement of pro-farmer, pro-worker policies.