Kerala fish workers started off the eve of farmers’ Homage Day with a solidarity protest on Thiruvananthapuram streets in solidarity with the farmers struggle on December 19, 2020 against the three farm laws forcibly passed by the central government.
Earlier, the Kerala Vyapari Vyavasayi Ekopana Samiti (KVVES) marched in Palayam area to oppose the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance & Farm Services Act, the Farmer’s Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the Indian peninsula, Tamil Nadu’s Dravida Munnetra Kazhgam (DMK) called for a day-long hunger strike on Friday in Chennai to support farmers. Opposition political parties such as the Congress, the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK,) the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK,) the Communist Party of India (CPI) and many other political parties assembled at Valluvar Kottam despite state government’s refusal to allow for a protest. Police claimed imposition of Section 144 to maintain law and order in the city.
All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee (AIKSCC) State Coordinator K. Balakrishnan and MLA Gunasekaran attended the event to greet all MPs and MLAs who participated in the protest. It was reported that many participants were not allowed to enter Chennai.
Similarly, Puducherry Chief Minister Velu Narayanasamy and leaders of political parties observed a fast at Odiansalai.
Narayanasamy appealed to the central government to repeal the laws that could harm farmers and help corporates and protect the agriculture sector.
Karnataka’s capital city continued its daily protest on Friday under the leadership of the Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (KRRS) and the Dalit Sangharsha Samiti (DSS.) Leaders Ravi Poncha, Ramaswamy, Keragodu Guruprasad, Mavalli Shankar, V Nagaraj and other leaders participated in dharana.
On December 20, farmers’ leaders called for a Homage Day across India to pay respects to all protesters who lost their lives during the farmers’ struggle.
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