India’s Farmers March Under Red Flag, Demand Agrarian Reform | Multimedia | teleSUR English
A sea of hammer and sickles and red flags swept the Indian state of Maharastra, as Indian farmers protested neoliberal policies and demanded agrarian reform.
The farmers began their march from the southwestern city of Nashik to Mumbai on Mar. 6, and after walking for nearly 140 hours, tens of thousands of peasants reached Mumbai late Sunday night.Photo:Reuters
The march was under the leadership of the All India Kisan Sabha, or AIKS, which is the peasant wing of the Communist Party of India, Marxist.Photo:Reuters
The right-wing Modi government has agreed to resolve the farmers’ issues within six months, putting a halt to the farmer’s march, which was quickly expanding and gaining international attention.Photo:Communist Party of India (Marxist)
The main demands by the farmers include a complete loan waiver, including electricity bills, an adequate fixed minimum support price for their produce, the right to land for the tribal cultivators as part of the 2006 Forest Rights Act, and other recommendations made by the Swaminathan Commission.Photo:Reuters
After the protest demobilized, trains have been set aside to help bring the protesters home.Photo:Communist Party of India (Marxist)
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) is India’s largest left, socialist party, with high membership across the country and holding state power in Kerala.Photo:Reuters
Farmers have been among the hardest-hit by the neoliberal government of Narendra Modi, with thousands of farmers taking their lives each year to escape crushing debt for their families.Photo:Reuters
Published 12 March 2018
Source: India’s Farmers March Under Red Flag, Demand Agrarian Reform | Multimedia | teleSUR English
