AIKS MAHARASHTRA WORKSHOP IN KOLHAPUR DECIDES TO INTENSIFY STRUGGLES AGAINST BJP-LED MODI-FADNAVIS REGIMES

The state workshop of the Maharashtra Rajya Kisan Sabha (AIKS) was held on October 22-23 at Kolhapur in Western Maharashtra amidst great enthusiasm. After the flag-hoisting by former AIKS state president J P Gavit, MLA, floral tributes were paid to martyrs. 207 leading AIKS activists from 21 districts were present.

Reception committee chairman and ex-MLA of the Peasants and Workers Party (PWP) Sampatbapu Pawar Patil, welcomed the delegates. The workshop was inaugurated by AIKS President Dr Ashok Dhawale. J P Gavit, MLA, was the chief guest at the inaugural session that was chaired by state vice president Dr Uday Narkar.

The inaugural session was addressed by AIKS state president Kisan Gujar, working president Arjun Adey, general secretary Dr Ajit Nawale and it was greeted by CITU leaders Prof Dr Subhash Jadhav and Prof. A B Patil.

All the speakers came down heavily on the anti-farmer policies of the BJP central and state governments and called for intense struggles on the issue of the severe drought all over the state, against the betrayal of the written assurances given to the Kisan Long March and on burning issues like FRA implementation, loan waiver, remunerative prices, crop insurance, pensions, bullet train and other issues of land acquisition.

It was decided to hold a large state-level AIKS convention at the Yashwantrao Chavan Auditorium in Mumbai on November 12 and to mobilise well for the ‘Chalo Dilli’ Kisan Mukti March being organised by the AIKSCC from November 29-30.

A call was given to complete the AIKS membership this year with vigour within a month, concentrate on the central fund campaign and hold village unit conferences in all districts to strengthen the organisation.

All districts held group discussions to plan the implementation of all the above tasks and placed their plan before the workshop.

The workshop was addressed by J P Gavit, MLA, state vice president Udayan Sharma and state treasurer Umesh Deshmukh. It was conducted by state joint secretary Sunil Malusare. Dr Ajit Nawale placed the decisions of the AIKS state council meeting held the previous night. The concluding speech was made by Dr Ashok Dhawale.

A well-attended press conference was held in Kolhapur after the conclusion of the workshop.