Kisan March success spurs a ‘Dilli chalo’
Peaceful rallies will be taken out on Nov 28-29 in the national capital to press for a special Parliament session that addresses the agrarian crisis.
Inspired by the Kisan Long March from Nashik to Mumbai eight months ago, a similar peaceful protest has been planned in Delhi on November 29-30.
Farmers from across the country are expected to descend on the national capital, demanding a special three-week session of Parliament to discuss the agrarian crisis. Intending to support the long march, many social organisations, working professionals, theatre personalities and individuals have come together under a group—Nation for Farmers.
To include more farmers in the protest, the All India Kisan Sabha has planned the march to Delhi in a bigger way. On November 28-29, farmers from across the country will gather on the boundaries of Delhi and walk about 30 km to Ramlila Maidan. The next day, they will walk to Parliament Street with a charter of demands. The All India Kisan Sabha has appealed to opposition parties to join hands with them against the BJP government and “its wrong policies”.
“After receiving a huge response to the Kisan March in Mumbai, we decided to do it on an even larger scale. The farmers from Punjab, Haryana, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and the southern states will participate in the march. The demands include liberation from debt, fair price for grains and a special session of Parliament to discuss the agrarian crisis. We are also preparing a charter of demands that include land issues and pension for farmers,” said Ashok Dhawale, national president of All India Kisan Sabha.
He said many groups have been formed in Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Chennai to mobilise farmers. “The idea came after the Mumbai march, although it was spontaneous support then.”
State MP Raju Shetti from Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana and CPM MP KK Ragesh have already presented private members’ bills in Parliament on behalf of farmers.
Wearing red caps and waving flags sporting a sickle and hammer symbol, over 40,000 farmers had marched to Mumbai from Nashik. The 180-km march received an overwhelming and unprecedented support in Mumbai.
Senior journalist P Sainath, who is part of Nation for Farmers and is reportedly connecting people to farmers, said, “Solidarity groups from the middle class have been formed in various cities. There are lawyers, teachers, artists, theatre groups, insurance employees’ associations, and bank employees who have extended their support.”
The All India Kisan Sabha held a meeting on Monday at YB Chavan Centre at Nariman Point to prepare farmers for the Delhi march. Thousands of farmers from Maharashtra attended the programme along with NCP chief Sharad Pawar and Congress leader Ashok Chavan.
A protest in Delhi by farmers of western Uttar Pradesh last month had turned violent, as the agitators tried to break barriers and the police used water cannons and tear gas on them.
