Kisan Sangharsh Rally Sends Warning To Anti-Peasant Narendra Modi Government

Kisan Sangharsh Rally Sends Warning To Anti-Peasant Narendra Modi Government. Call for United Struggles Against Neo-Liberal Policies and Corporate Loot.

Thousands of peasants and agricultural workers from across the country assembled in Delhi for the Kisan Sangharsh Rally and marched to the Parliament against anti-farmer policies of the Narendra Modi led BJP Government. The farmers defied the crisis created by the demonetisation decision and came all the way from the farthest corners of India from Kerala and Tamil Nadu in the South to Jammu & Kashmir in the North, Assam, Tripura and Manipur in the North East to Gujarat in the West. In the chill Delhi winter they started assembling at Ram Lila Maidan from 23rd November, morning onwards. They marched to the Parliament raising slogans against the BJP Government and demanding measures to overcome the agrarian crisis.

Four Kisan Sangharsh Jathas from Virudhunagar, Kanyakumari, Jammu and Kolkata travelling around 20,000 KM over the last 22 days interacting with the farmers and rural poor. The Jathas with the Slogan “Save Agriculture, Save Peasantry, Save Country” and call “No to Suicides, Unite to Fight against Neo-Liberal Policies and Communal Forces”. The Kisan Sangharsh Rally demands pro-peasant alternative agricultural policies that will resist corporatisation of agriculture with the call for strengthening agricultural cooperatives.

The Massive Rally was presided over by Amra Ram, President of All India Kisan Sabha. N.K.Shukla, Chairperson of the Reception Committee and Joint Secretary, AIKS delivered the welcome address. Addressing the Rally Amra Ram, Hannan Mollah, General Secretary of AIKS, Vijoo Krishnan, P.Krishnaprasad and Ashok Dhawale who led the four Jathas hit out at the BJP Government’s betrayal of the peasantry. Speakers warned the Government that policies that promote corporate loot of land, water, forest and mineral resources will be resisted building broadest unity. They said Kisan Sabha will organise united struggles for a pro-peasant alternative. The Rally also gave a call to defeat divisive forces and fight against caste oppression as well as communal forces. (Memorandum is attached)

Sitaram Yechuri, Member of Parliament and General Secretary of the CPI(M) speaking at the Rally pointed out to the growing hardships of the peasantry and rural poor after this Government has taken over. Referring to the massive concessions to corporate companies and the mounting troubles for masses due to the demonetisation decision he called for united protests on 28th November. He assured that the Left Members of Parliament will raise the demands of the Rally in the Parliament.

CITU President A.K.Padmanabhan, AIAWU Joint Secretary Suneet Chopra, DYFI President M.B.Rajesh, SFI General Secretary Vikram Singh, and Rakesh Singha, Himachal Pradesh Apple Growers’ Association and others greeted the Rally. Jitendra Choudhary, Convenor Adivasi Adhikar Rashtriya Manch alswo expressed solidarity. Atul Anjaan, General Secretary, AIKS (Ajoy Bhavan), Sunilam, Bhoomi Adhikar Andolan, Medha Patkar, NAPM also spoke in solidarity and called for strengthening united action against Neo-Liberal Policies and corporate land grab as well as loot of resources.

The Rally gave a call to build united struggles against Neo-Liberal policies in States, launch militant struggles in suicide prone regions for ensuring effective relief. It also called upon the peasantry and rural poor to protest against the hardships caused due to the demonetisation drive on 28th November.

Sd/-
Amra Ram, President

Sd/-Hannan Mollah, General Secretary

All India Kisan Sabha

All India Kisan Sabha

36 Canning Lane, New Delhi-1

24th November, 2016

Memorandum

To,

The Prime Minister

Government of India

New Delhi-110001

Sir,

Thousands of peasants and agricultural workers from across the country assembled in Delhi today for a massive Kisan Sangharsh Rally and March to Parliament. Four Kisan Sangharsh Jathas from Virudhunagar, Kanyakumari, Jammu and Kolkata with the Slogan “Save Agriculture, Save Peasantry, Save Country” and call “No to Suicides, Unite to Fight against Neo-Liberal Policies and Communal Forces” converged in Delhi. The Jathas travelled across more than 10,000 KM over the last 22 days interacting with the farmers and rural poor. Jathas were held in all States preceding the Kisan Sangharsh Jatha. The peasantry who assembled for the Kisan Sangharsh Rally demands pro-peasant alternative agricultural policies that will resist corporatisation of agriculture with the call for strengthening agricultural cooperatives.

Charter of Demands

1. Implement progressive and comprehensive Land Reforms all over the country and protect petty production in agriculture by upholding the interests of small, marginal and middle peasants.

2. Implement the Land Acquisition Act 2013 with protection for all dependants on land. Stop attempts to acquire agriculture land through draconian State Acts. Strictly implement Forest Rights Act and stop indiscriminate snatching of Tribal Land by corporate companies. Protect the rights of tenant farmers.

3. Implement comprehensive package of loan waiver for poor, marginal peasants and middle peasants. Reverse the anti-people Neo-liberal Economic Policies to stop farmers’ suicide. Provide Rs. 10 lakhs to compensate the families of all victims of farmers’ suicide. Provide interest free agriculture credit to small and marginal peasants, share croppers, tenant farmers, agriculture workers and middle peasants. Fix the interest rate of agriculture credit at 4%.

4. Ensure Minimum Support Price at the rate of 50% in addition to cost of production as recommended by M S Swaminathan Commission and ensure direct procurement by Food Corporation of India from farmers.

5. Immediately withdraw Foreign Direct Investment in agriculture and Food processing industry and E-marketing of agricultural products that serve corporate companies. Provide government funding to promote agro-processing industries and wholesale and retail marketing networks under social cooperatives of peasant and agriculture workers to manufacture and sell value added consumer products.

6. Ensure proper implementation of MGNREGA, 200 days of work per annum and fix the wage as not less than Rs 300 per day.

7. Enact central legislation for agricultural workers to ensure minimum wage and social security. Provide house sites free of cost to all landless agricultural workers and poor peasants.

8. Ensure supply of inputs at subsidised rate and promote agro-ecological practices.

9. Ensure crop insurance to all crops and full compensation for the crop loss due to natural calamity, wild animal attacks, and crop diseases and fix revenue village as the unit for assessing compensation. Provide effective drought relief and compensation to the affected peasantry.

10. Ensure proper storage including cold storage, cold chain facilities, warehousing and marketing system for agricultural produce.

11. Ensure food security by enhancing agriculture production, procurement and distribution.

12. Ensure social security by providing minimum Rs 3000 monthly pension for all the peasants and agriculture workers all over the country. Ensure right to safe drinking water, house sites, housing, education and health to all.

13. Repeal proposal of anti-worker amendments in the labour law, child labour law, stop attacks on the working class and intensification of exploitation.

14. NDA government should desist from allowing free hand to communal and casteist forces.

15. Stop growing atrocities and attacks on Women, Dalits, Tribals and Minorities.

In times of acute agrarian crisis, increasing farmers’ distress, suicides and mounting hardships we request you to implement the Charter of Demands and provide relief to the peasantry.

Amra Ram Hannan Mollah

President, General Secretary

All India Kisan Sabha