Kisan Mukti Morcha | SabrangIndia

In solidarity with Kisan Mukti March: JNUSU

Wed, 05 Dec 2018 09:01:19 +0000

The Farmers’ Freedom from Indebtedness Bill, 2018 and the Farmers’ Right to Guaranteed Remunerative Minimum Support Prices for Agricultural Commodities Bill, 2018 have already been placed in the Parliament. The parliamentary session should ensure the passage of these bills. The focus needs to put on the issues of women farmers, Adivasi and Dalit farmers in the country, JNUSU said in a statement.

New Delhi: The Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union (JNUSU) expressed their solidarity with the Kisan Mukti March, November 29-30, Delhi.

In a press note, they stated that “Over 300,000 farmer suicides in the past twenty years and increased migrations driven by the collapse of livelihoods are reflective of the deep crises of declining productivity, ascending poverty and increased dispossession that plagues the rural economy.”

They wrote that the Swaminathan Commission had identified the issues affecting farmers in the country including issues of institutional credit, unfinished agenda of land reforms and water crisis. Over a decade has passed and the recommendations of the Swaminathan Commission are yet to be implemented. Successive central and state governments have failed to address the issues concerning farmers in the country. Consistent anti-farmer policies are reflected in the collapse of the village society and agrarian economy. The current government also cannot shy away from its responsibilities towards those engaged in one of the largest sectors in terms of employment in the country.

The All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee (AIKSCC), representing over 200 organisations, has given a call for the Kisan Mukti March to the Parliament demanding a special session of the Parliament on farmer’s issues in the country. This demand for the special parliament session has arisen after continuous protests, petitions, demands from distressed farmers, labourers, several other sections of the population that derive their livelihood from agriculture and related activities. The march will provide a broad platform for the peasants, working class as well as the middle classes to come together and demand the rights of the agricultural workers, farmers, peasants affected by the policies of successive neoliberal governments, JNUSU said.

“The Farmers’ Freedom from Indebtedness Bill, 2018 and the Farmers’ Right to Guaranteed Remunerative Minimum Support Prices for Agricultural Commodities Bill, 2018 have already been placed in the Parliament and seeking approval. The parliamentary session should ensure the passage of these bills. The focus needs to put on the issues of women farmers, Adivasi and Dalit farmers in the country,” they said.

“The JNUSU gives its complete solidarity to the Kisan Mukti March and vouches to participate in all the struggles seeking redressal of farmers’ concerns in the country,” they stated.

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Kisan Mukti March: Farmers’ Protest March in Delhi on 29-30 November 2018

Thu, 29 Nov 2018 05:24:50 +0000

They are demanding a special Parliament Session to pass laws on debt waiver and higher prices for produce

The real face of India will once again be visible in the capital Delhi on 29-30 November 2018, as thousands of farmers arrive to highlight their distress and demand from the indifferent Modi govt. that laws should be passed for complete debt waiver of all farmers and higher prices be ensured for agricultural produce. This huge expression of farmers’ unity and strength stands in marked contrast to recent attempts by RSS and various Hindu fundamentalists to whip up support for a law for building a Ram temple in Ayodhya.

The Kisan Mukti March (Farmers Liberation March) is expected to see participation from all states in the country. It is being organised by the All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee (AIKSCC), a joint front of 208 farmers organisations and civil society groups.
Their main demand is that the a 21-day special session of the Parliament be called to discuss the raging agrarian crisis that has led to over 3 lakh farmers’ suicides and ruination of many more. The special session should discuss and pass the two Bills prepared by a Kisan Parliament last year to ensure liberation from debt and assured remunerative prices. Two Bills have been introduced as private member bills in the Parliament by K.K.Raghesh, CPI(M) MP and Joint Secretary of AIKS in Rajya Sabha and by Raju Shetti, MP from Maharashtra in the Lok Sabha. Raju Shetti had contested as an ally of the BJP in 2014, but he has now quit the NDA and is part of the AIKSCC.

The organisers have invited all political parties to send their representatives to participate in the March and declare their support for the demands. Several Opposition Chief Ministers are also expected to participate, including Kerala’s Pinarayi Vijayan and Delhi’s Arvind Kejriwal.

On 29 November, farmers will congregate at four points (in four directions) of the city and start marching towards the Ramlila Grounds located in central Delhi. A cultural programme “Ek Shaam Kisanon Ke Naam” (One Evening For Farmers) where eminent artists will perform has been planned for the evening. On 30 November, the gathered farmers – estimated at about a lakh – will march to the Parliament.

The past few years, especially the Modi period, have seen a growing tide of farmers’ protests which have been growing in sweep and scale. Starting with the massive struggle for protection of land rights and against unjust land acquisition within a year of the formation of the Modi govt. the movements of farmers burst out repeatedly in several states, mostly on the twin issues of low prices for produce and consequent indebtedness. Last November, a massive three-day Kisan Sansad took place in Delhi where thousands of farmers and families of many of those who had committed suicide took part. The Sansad ‘passed’ the two Bills and urged the Parliament to formally pass them and save the farming community of India from death and destitution. On 9th August this year, a Jail Bharo (Fill the Prisons) agitation was held across the country on the anniversary of the Quit India Movement which saw over 5 lakh peasants and workers taking part.

On 19 September this year, the farmers organisations and concerned citizens wrote an urgent appeal to the President of India urging him to ask the govt. to convene a Parliament Session and pass the two laws. The letter to the President said:
We request your intervention as the President of the Republic of India and the Constitutional head to ensure that a crisis of this scale that renders 70 per cent of Indian citizens vulnerable is addressed by a joint session of the Parliament of this country. In the recent past there was a midnight joint session of the Parliament to discuss the Goods and Services Tax. Surely the precariousness of the lives of millions of citizens merits the undivided attention of Parliament and thereby its commitment to find enduring solutions.

It pointed out the continuing struggles of various sections of working people in the country and the shameful failure of the Modi govt. to address their problems:
We bring to your attention that this demand for a special Parliamentary session emerges after numerous protests, petitions, pleadings by distressed farmers, labourers, forest communities, fisher folk and the foot soldiers of our country’s literacy and health care programmes – Anganwadi, Accredited Social Health Activists and Auxiliary Nurse Midwife workers, have failed to garner the attention of successive governments to the agrarian crisis.

One feature of the ongoing farmers’ struggles has been the increasing convergence with industrial workers’ movement that has been fighting for better wages and other demands. The 5th September Mazdoor-Kisan Sangharsh Rally this year saw lakhs of peasants, agricultural workers and workers marching together on the streets of Delhi.

It is this recent legacy of struggles that is woven together and expressing itself in the powerful Kisan Mukti March in Delhi. Meanwhile, spurred by the plight and fighting spirit of the oppressed farmers, several middle-class urban organisations too have decided to express solidarity with them and will be joining the March.

Courtesy: Newsclick.in

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MPs should bow before farmers at Jantar Mantar, pay homage to the Mandsaur ‘martyrs’, support farmers demands

Mon, 17 Jul 2017 06:40:20 +0000

The Loksabha MP from Maharashtra, Raju Shetty, to hand over a note to all MPs today, urging them to join him at Jantar Mantar tomorrow to pay homage to the farmer “martyrs” of Mandsaur and to extend their support to the farmers’ demands.

Kisan Mukti Yatra (Farmers Freedom March) reaches Agra; demands that Yogi government declare loan waiver for all farmers in UP.
Yatra will reach New Delhi tomorrow.
Countrywide support to the yatra.
Kisan leaders, including Nityendra Manav, Kishan Lal Guruji, Gopalchand Arya, Rameshwar Singh Shekhawat and Vikram Yadav will also attend the public meeting at Jantar Mantar.
All India Co-ordination Committee of Agitating Farmers appeals to all MPs: before going to Parliament, come to Jantar Mantar which is just 5 minutes away to extend your support to the farmers’ demands and to pay homage to the “martyrs” of Mandsaur.

The Kisan Mukti Yatra (Farmers Freedom March) which started from Mandsaur in MP on July 6 will be reaching Jantar Mantar in New Delhi tomorrow. On entering Uttar Pradesh on Sunday, the yatra was joined by the Kisan Adhikar Yatra which was launched in UP. The yatra will travel through Haryana on Monday and thousands of farmers led by kisan leaders from different states will enter the nation’s capital to highlight their two main demands: waiver of all loans to farmers, fair price for farm produce.

On Sunday the Yatra proceeded from Bishangarh. The yatris were received at Ladakbaas and Pavta by local kisan leaders. Thereafter they reached Kotputli where a public meeting was held. Addressing the gathering, Yogendra Yadav said in an appeal to all MPs: “When representatives of suffering farmers from across the country would be at Jantar Mantar to press their demands and pay homage to the six farmer “martyrs” of Mandsaur, our MPs will be inside Parliament just 5 minutes away deliberating over how best to serve the people. There are many MPs who have themselves struggled for farmers demands; many see themselves as well-wishers of farmers. So, the least the farmers will expect from the MPs is that they come to Jantar Mantar which is nearby, bow before the farmers who feed the nation, understand their problems and demands, pay homage to the “martyrs” of Mandsaur and help strengthen the movement to save agriculture, farmers and the nation”.

At Alwar, the kisan leaders addressed the media. The co-ordinator of the All India Farmers’ Co-ordination Committee, VM Singh said that only those will rule the country who ensure loan waivers to farmers and fair price for farm produce. He demanded that the Yogi government should declare full loan waiver for all farmers in UP.

Dr Suneelam deplored the fact that farmers have to face lathi charge and even bullets every time they take to agitation. He demanded that in all future cases of firing on farmers the policemen responsible must be charged with murder. He also called for a law prohibiting the use of bullets against farmers’ agitations.

While condemning the arrest of farmers from Tamilnadu who were agitating outside the PMO, the spokesperson of the Bharatiya Kaisan Union, Gora Singh, said sooner or later the Prime Minister will have to talk to the farmers.

While talking to the media, the general secretary of the Bharatiya Kisan Mahasabha, Raja Ram Singh said the Prime Minister should break his silence over the police firing on farmers in Mandsaur.

The Kisan Mukti Yatra has been launched by kisan leaders from 15 states across the country.

Recalling the police firing at Mandsaur, remembering the heritage of the Bardoli and Kheda struggles, the Kisan Mukti Yatra has embraced the dispossessed farmers of Narmada, the adivasi women of Vyara and the Koonch Yatra of Mehsana’s Dalit organisations.

The Yatra which started from Mandsaur on July 6 will reach Jantar Mantar on July 18 after traversing six states en route. Thousands of farmers will then sit on an indefinite dharna at Jantar Mantar, supported by over 200 farmers organizations from all over India.

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