Condemn and Protest Against Barbaric Police Attack on Peasantry In Bengal
All India Kisan Sabha condemns the brutal police action at the behest of TMC Government against peaceful protestors in Kolkata during the Nabanna March jointly organised by AIKS, AIAWU and many other organisations demanding remunerative prices and resolving the agrarian crisis in the State. Police resorted to lathi-charge, use of water-cannon and teargas and violent attack on the protestors. Over thousand people including women and aged suffered injuries of whom over hundred are critical. Male police personnel also misbehaved with women protestors and unleashed violent attacks on them. The authorities refused permission to even submit a Memorandum, barricaded the area in such a manner as to ensure that there is no escape route and brutal attack was launched through water cannons and lathi-charge. The police did not spare even the journalists and over two dozen of them also sustained injuries as well as their cameras were damaged. This kind of attack on peaceful democratic protest is unprecedented and points to the throttling of democracy in Bengal under the TMC regime. Despite the massive repression by the TMC regime over a million people are on the streets and have resolved to continue the struggle till the Mamatha Banerji led TMC Government meets the demands of the peasantry.
Many leaders of the Left and Democratic movement including Com.Biman Basu, Com.Kanti Ganguly and activists of Paschim Banga Krishak Sabha as well as Paschim Banga Khet Mazdoor Union and other mass organisations are injured. Many leaders including Mohammed Salim, Ramchandra Dome, Samik Lahiri, Sujan Chakrabarty and others have been arrested. General Secretary of AIKS, Hannan Mollah, Surjyakant Misra and Madan Ghosh Vice Presidents, Joint Secretary of AIKS and State President of Paschim Banga Krishak Sabha Nripen Chowdhary, Amal Haldar, State Secretary of Paschim Banga Krishak Sabha, Amiya Patra, General Secretary and Tushar Ghosh, President of Paschim Banga Khet Mazdoor Union led the protestors who marched from five different points in Kolkata. AIKS demands immediate release of the arrested and action against the police personnel responsible for the brutal action.
The AIKS along with AIAWU and different organisations of the peasantry had called for the Nabanna March seeking that the TMC Government meet 18 demands. Broadly, the Charter of Demands included remunerative prices for crops according to Swaminathan Commission recommendations, bonus of Rs.200/Quintal and Rs.50/Quintal transportation of paddy in addition to central MSP, opening of purchasing centres, prevention of peasant suicides and Rs.10 lakh compensation for families of farmers who committed suicide, debt relief, jobs under MGNREGA at not less than Rs.300/day and clearance of arrears, withdrawal of the Central decision to import wheat at zero import duty, cold storages for potatoes by the State and procurement of potatoes at Rs.700/Quintal, cheap credit, effective insurance for all farmers including share-croppers with village as unit, reduction of prices of petrol, diesel, cooking gas and kerosene, electricity connection for tenants and poor peasants, house-sites and housing, financial assistance under LAMPS to Adivasis, Rs.3000/month for peasants and agricultural workers over the age of 60 years, food security, ensuring communal harmony, stopping attacks on women and protection of democratic rights of the people. A broad issue-based unity had been built bringing together many organisations around these demands. Slogans were raised against both the State Government and the Narendra Modi-led BJP Government at the Centre.
Instead of addressing the genuine demands of the peasantry and rural poor the Chief Minister chose not to be present in Kolkata, AIKS warns the TMC Government of intensified united protests mobilising the peasantry, workers and all democracy loving people of Bengal till the genuine demands are met. Protests across Bengal have been called tomorrow. AIKS expresses solidarity with the injured and calls upon our units across the country to rise up in protest against the TMC regime’s brutality.
Sd/-
Amra Ram, President
Hannan Mollah, General Secretary
22nd May, 2017
