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Gujarat farmers resolve to support struggle for agrarian rights despite state repression

Thu, 18 Mar 2021 06:42:54 +0000

Gujarat farmers held a state council meeting on March 16, 2021 at Ahmedabad, with 34 members from 11 districts to discuss the ongoing farmers struggle and future tasks, said the All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) in a press release.

AIKS President Dr Ashok Dhawale addressed the audience regarding farmers’ agitation against the three farm laws forcibly passed by the central government – 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 – while State President Dayabhai Gajera presided over the event. Secretary Purushottam Parmar placed a written report of AIKS activities in 2020 and State Vice President Arun Mehta gave important guidance.

In December, over 150 AIKS-led peasants from Gujarat participated in a siege for two weeks at the Shahjahanpur border. Thereafter, members formed a state-level joint front of various farmer organisations to support the Delhi struggle. However, when the AIKS tried to implement subsequent SKM action calls, the BJP-led Gujarat government arrested AIKS and CITU leaders in several districts.

“Despite the pandemic, the AIKS crossed 39,000 membership in Gujarat last year,” said Dhawale.

Resolving to implement future SKM calls for struggle, members said they would take up local issues of the peasantry, concentrate on completing the membership drive in April, decide dates of extended district council meetings and plan for maximum unit conferences in May.

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Farmers focus on assembly election stating “govt only understands votes”

Tue, 02 Mar 2021 13:45:23 +0000

Stating that the Bharatiya Janata Party-led (BJP) government only understands votes and MP seats, farmers organisation Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) appealed to farmers on March 2, 2021 to not vote for the party and its allies that introduced the three farm laws.

During a press conference, farmers leaders announced all farmers protests planned until March 15. SKM leader Yogendra Yadav said that members will first approach the farmers’ unit in Kolkata city of West Bengal on March 12.

“This government only understands vote, seat elections and chair. So, we have decided to hurt them by vote. For this, we will start from Kolkata wherein a huge SKM delegation will hand state farmer leaders the appeal,” he said.

Leaders said they would then move on to other states such as Kerala that will have assembly elections in the near-future.

Another major event will be “MSP Dilao Abhiyan” on March 5 when farmers in Gulbarga and Chitradurga cities of Karnataka will demand Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for their harvest for the season. This will also be the first SKm event of March that will be conducted outside the northern region. Yadav said he will attend the event and later the campaign will branch out to Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and all other states.

The next day, farmers near the KMP highway will completely block the road on March 6 from 11 AM to 4 PM. Toll plazas will also be freed up from collecting toll fees. In other places, the day will be marked by flying black flags on houses and offices to signify support to the movement, and to protest against the government. The SKM also called on protestors to wear black bands.

Later, on March 8, the SKM will celebrate Mahila Kisan Diwas as women farmers will take center-stage across all SKM protest sites in India.

“The SKM invites women’s organisations and others marking International Women’s Day on that day to do so in support of the farmers’ movement and highlighting the contributions of women farmers to the country,” it said.

As a mid-month finale, farmers will join workers in a joint nationwide agitation to decry the Centre’s attempts to corporatize and privatise India. Accordingly, on mid-March Monday, farmers and members of the Central Trade Unions will protest outside railway stations.

Meanwhile, farmers continue to raise awareness about the Modi-regime’s attitude towards farmers agitating against the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance & Farm Services Act, the Farmer’s Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act – and demanding the legislation of Minimum Support Price (MSP) for all farmers.

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SHOCKING! Nearly 3 lakh farmers died due to loan debts in the last two decades!

Mon, 25 Jan 2021 06:20:09 +0000

Image Courtesy:indiatimes.com

Farmers cannot lose because they are on the right side of justice, said a pamphlet issued by local farmers organisations of northern India on January 20,2021.

The Jan Sangharsh Manch Haryana, Mehnatkash Kisan Morcha and Inquilabi Kendra Punjab circulated a pamphlet that voiced the various failings of the central government in the agri-sector while also listing various demands of farmers.

Organisations said that the on-going farmers’ struggle highlighted farmers’ issues that resulted in the death by suicide of nearly three lakh farmers in the last two decades such as loans and debts.

“The government policies that guaranteed ‘great production and prosperity’ have led to a type of farming that caused ‘great production and destruction,’” said the pamphlet.

Further, organisations claimed that the policies focused on making profits for companies compelled farmers into using an indiscriminate amount of chemical fertilisers and pesticides. This has destroyed at least 25 percent of farmland. Current market procedure and land acquisition rules also complicate matters for farmers. The pamphlet said that such problems force farmers to take drastic steps.

“Every half an hour, a farmer dies by suicide and every day 2,300 farmers leave farming,” they said.

Organisations also questioned farmers’ state of poverty in the country. Referring to a non-government survey that used National Sample Survey figures, leaders said that a farmer’s average monthly income is Rs. 2,117 which is less than their average monthly expenditure of Rs. 2,700.

“Farmers are being pushed into the chaos of poverty and helplessness through these policies. Every year the government brings in populist schemes that fail to improve farmers’ lives,” said the organisations.

According to Krishi Census 2015-16, around 86.2 percent of farmers’ population is marginal of small farmers. However, only 10 percent of marginal and small farmers avail government policies and subsidies. Most of these schemes benefit big farmers.

In fact, marginal farmers struggle to get government loans. The government continues to ignore farmers’ demand for loan waivers yet agrees to waive the outstanding amount of Rs. 3.5 lakh crores of 11 industrialists. Organisations demand that the government should think of farmer loans before relieving big corporates.

“This fight against the three farm laws benefiting big corporates and Modi-regime also strives to solve farmers issues. These problems have been going on for a long time… If we lose this fight, then national and foreign corporates will destroy us,” said farmers organisations.

Accordingly, the three groups put forward eight important demands of farmers:

1. Repeal the three farm laws namely, 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.

2. Legalisation of Minimum Support Price (MSP) and procurement.

3. Universalisation of Public Distribution System (PDS.)

4. Repeal of proposed Electricity (Amendment) Bill 2020.

5. Repeal of clauses of Pollution Control laws penalizing farmers for stubble burning.

6. Withdrawal of all National Investigation Agency (NIA) cases filed against farmers and supporters.

7. Non-interest government loans for small and marginal farmers and government subsidies for seed, fertilizer and electricity and other facilities.

8. Government policies to encourage small and marginal farmers to participate in cooperative farming.

Organisations also reminded readers about the Kisan Republic Parade on January 26, to decry the three laws forcibly passed by the central government.

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Farmer leaders consider Centre’s proposal to suspend farm laws for 18 months

Thu, 21 Jan 2021 06:40:16 +0000

Image Courtesy:telegraphindia.com

The central government on January 20, 2021 proposed to suspend the three farm laws for one and a half years by submitting an affidavit committing the same to the Supreme Court.

Farmer leaders agreed to discuss the proposal in their January 21 meeting. However, they emphasised that farmers demanded repeal of 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.

On the issue of MSP, the government offered a committee but the farmers rejected it. The next meeting will take place on January 21 at 12 PM wherein farmers will respond to the government proposal.

On Wednesday, leaders discussed National Investigation Agency (NIA) investigations and arrests. The government assured that people associated with the ongoing movement will not be harassed and intimidated using the NIA.

In celebration of Prakash Gurupurab of Shri Guru Gobind Singh Day, people across the world pledged for the success of the farmers’ movement by chanting the Shabad “Deh Siva Baru Mohe” from 11 AM to 1 PM, said farmer leaders in a press release.

The Sanyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) also met with Delhi, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh police to discuss the route for the Kisan Parade on January 26. Farmers stood firm on their plan of holding a parade on the Outer Ring Road, while police suggested alternative roads and even recommended that farmers not hold a parade at all.

Regardless, the SKM said that farmers from various parts of the country are reaching Delhi borders to join the movement. Farmers riding thousands of tractors from Lakhimpur and Bijnor of Uttarakhand will soon reach city borders.

In Madhya Pradesh, farmers from Riva, Gwalior, Multai areas continue indefinite sit-in strikes. People also distribute memorandums to the administration at different places. Similarly, farmers visit village-to-village to raise awareness and prepare people for upcoming programs. A huge tractor march was taken out in Bilwani, as well.

Odisha farmers who carried out the Navnirman Sangathan yatra towards Delhi plan to observe a fast till January 26 in protest against the Uttar Pradesh government’s attempt to disturb and reroute the march.

Similarly, people in Punjab and Haryana – not only farmer-labourers but people from every section of the society – have actively participated in the movement. Rajasthan farmers will come to Delhi borders by performing tractor marches, bike rallies and small meetings in northern Rajasthan.

Honouring the many martyrs of the movement, the SKM said, “The entire leadership of the Sanyukta Kisan Morcha pays homage to these martyrs. We all assure that the sacrifice of these farmers will not go in vain. We demand proper compensation to the families of the martyrs.”

The National Alliance of People’s Movement’s (NAPM) Kisan Jyoti Yatra crossed Udaipur, Rajasthan. Widow farmers or family members of farmers who died by suicide are travelling from Yavatmal, Maharashtra to Delhi. Moreover, a massive rally was organised today in Kolkata, West Bengal where the Annadatar Saath Bangla indefinite sit-in strike continues.

Meanwhile, Bihar farmers are agitating in over 20 places in the state.

“The government is presenting this movement by connecting it with a particular section and area. With their struggle, farmers of Bihar have also responded to the argument. In Bihar, one side demonstrations are being held at the villages, district headquarters wherein Patna, AIPF activists also protested in large numbers,” said the SKM.

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Farmers and workers gear up for November 26 protest!

Wed, 25 Nov 2020 13:51:02 +0000

Image Courtesy:informalnewz.com

Farmers organisations, trade Unions and workers’ organisations across India have set the stage for the nationwide civic unrest planned from November 26, 2020 onwards.

During a press conference on November 25, coordinating members of the All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee (AIKSCC) said all states were geared up for “Dilli Chalo” programme for November 26 and 27.

Similarly, the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) on Wednesday strongly denounced government’s repression on peasants and workers since the last two days.

Both organisations and their coalitions asserted many times in recent days that peasant unrest will continue indefinitely if the central government does not accede to their demands.

“Farmers’ indefinite struggle with Dilli Chalo on November 26th onwards has been launched in full strength and we will intensify the struggle from here on”, said the AIKSCC.

Their main demands include a repeal of the three central farm Acts and a withdrawal of the Electricity Bill 2020. The farmers’ body called these legislations “anti-farmer and anti-people,” created mainly to facilitate the expansion of corporate control over agriculture and food systems.

Meanwhile, trade Unions demanded that the Union government abstain from privatising the public sector of India that serves as the backbone of the economy. They congratulated the working class and the peasantry for displaying such strong solidarity and determination to fight and warned the BJP-led government that the anger of the people against its disastrous and destructive policies will not be suppressed by dictatorial measures.

To illustrate this point, organisations referred and condemned arrests of several farmer and Trade Union leaders there since November 24. As many as 31 leaders have been detained or arrested in Haryana.

“Workers, employees and peasants in Haryana are jointly protesting against the repression and are sitting on dharna in many places demanding immediate release of the arrested leaders. The working class throughout the country has condemned these arrests,” said CITU.

To make matters worse, the Odisha government invoked the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) that ensures the continuance of certain services. State workers have organised protest demonstrations in front of the state assembly against the decision.

Undeterred by the arrests, tens of thousands of peasants from Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and other states are moving towards Delhi using different modes of transport. Hundreds of people will reach Delhi in vehicle convoys from Karnataka, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh.

In locations distant from Delhi, simultaneous protests will happen locally, at taluka, district and state levels. For example, 16 newly-elected MLAs in Bihar will protest outside the Legislative Assembly on Constitution Day while dharnas and demonstrations are observed at most districts of the state. Similarly, Jharkhand protesters will march to the Raj Bhavan.

Southern state Karnataka has created a thousand points to implement village-level bandhs with Jathas underway in different districts. Tamil Nadu will witness rasta roko and rail roko agitation in more than 500 places.

District and taluka level protests are planned in eastern Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. The two southern states will also hold demonstrations at central government offices at all district centres on November 27.

Andhra Pradesh farmers will protest on Friday in front of power sub-stations across the state against the Electricity Bill and reforms while south Odisha will observe complete bandh.

Maharashtra farmers will close all Mandis as part of the Grameen Hartal and in 200 tehsils of 37 districts, tehsil level protests will be held. There is also a plan to have indefinite protests launched in some districts in parallel with the Delhi protest. In West Bengal, Grameen Hartal will be observed in all districts. More than 500 conventions and outreach programs have been held in the past few weeks in the state.

On Tuesday, trade Unions had said that workers from banks and insurance companies, coal sector, power sector, steam sector, oil sector, defence sector, railways sector, various central government employees, several state governments, even private transport sectors such as auto drivers, taxi driver unions promised to abstain from work. Leaders warned that some buses may not arrive early morning on Thursday. Further, scheme workers like anganwadi workers, ASHA personnel as well as hawkers, bidi workers, agriculture workers and construction workers will also join the strike.

The growing coalition warned the Union government not to use Covid-19 as an excuse to thwart the democratic right of citizens to protest against anti-people moves.

“Covid-19 care requires several medical and preventive steps, like distribution of masks, sanitizers, physical care of the needy and jobless, etc where the government’s performance is woefully wanting. The Government has rather imposed policing and fines which are counter-productive and meant to blame people and demoralize them. The Government of India should stop mis-utilising coronavirus threats to harm farmers,” said the AIKSCC in a press conference.

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Farmers organisations announce nation-wide road blockade on November 5

Wed, 28 Oct 2020 04:32:13 +0000

Major farmer federations announced a nation-wide road blockade on November 5, 2020 and a march towards Delhi from November 26 to November 27 to protest the three anti-farmer laws and the Electricity Bill of 2020.

During a physical press conference at Gurudrwara Rakabganj, New Delhi, as many as 500 constituent organisations, including the All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee (AIKSCC) and led by farmer leaders Sardar Balbir Singh Rajewal and Gurnam Singh Chanduni announced the itinerary for November on October 27.

The coalition shall organise a Program Coordination Body Committee that will include leaders V. M. Singh, Balbir Singh Rajewal, Gurnam Singh, Raju Shetty and Yogendra Yadav. The Committee shall coordinate the all-India road blockade on Thursday and the ‘Delhi Chalo’ protest near the end of the month.

During these days, farmers will demand the withdrawal of recently passed farm Acts – the Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act – and the Electricity Bill 2020.

“The protests will include huge state-wise/region-wise build-up of mass mobilizations and movements focussing on these demands. All over India, farmers will protest before government offices including central government offices and offices of BJP leaders and their allies, corporates, as well,” said the press release.

During the meeting, members condemned the Union government’s decision to stop the operation of goods trains to Punjab unless passenger trains start plying. Leaders alleged the government was blackmailing people and Punjab’s famers.

“Farmers have not destroyed any railway track or any carriage. This stoppage by the Union is most unbecoming of a democratic government,” they said, alleging that the Bharatiya Janata Party was scheming against Punjab’s farmers.

Punjab and Haryana farmers have been most vocal in their dissent against the new laws over the past months. However, leaders asserted that the agitation had spread to all farmers’ organisations in the country and not just two states in North India.

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AIKS congratulates Punjab farmers for the walk-out at Krishi Bhawan

Thu, 15 Oct 2020 05:24:31 +0000

Image Courtesy:hindustantimes.com

The All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) commended the 29 farmers organisations on October 14, 2020 for walking out of the meeting with the Union Agriculture Secretary Sanjay Agarwal and called for a protest march to Delhi starting from November 26.

The AIKSCC working group member Darsan Pal and the AIKS Punjab unit Secretary Major Singh Punnevale and others attended the meeting but walked out when the Agriculture Secretary refused to accept their demands to repeal the three agriculture laws. Moreover, the AIKS press release stated that Agarwal failed to answer why the law on price assurance does not have a clause on guaranteed procurement with MSP at C2+50 percent.

The delegation had also demanded that the Prime Minister and Minister for Agriculture call all farmers organisations for discussion if they are keen to resolve the farmers’ struggle.

“The All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee (AIKSCC) constituent organisations have observed November 14 as MSP Adhikar Day and lakhs of peasants and agriculture workers have participated in the demonstrations across the country,” said the press release.

Although the unity and determination shown by Punjab continues to inspire peasantry across the country, the AIKS challenged the Centre’s notion that the farmers’ struggle is limited to Punjab.

Accordingly, General Secretary Hannan Mollah declared a march to the capital city between November 26 and November 27.

“The peasantry and the farmers across the country are agitating against the pro corporate farm Acts and will intensify the struggle in the coming days under the banner of AIKSCC. The Central Trade Unions have included the demand for repeal of three farm Acts and four labour Codes in their charter and declared a general strike on November 26. There will be widest unity of the working class and the peasantry and massive stiff resistance till the Union Government repeal the farm Acts and labour Codes,” said the press release.

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