AIKS HOLDS LARGE RALLY AT KALBURGI IN KARNATAKA

The Karnataka Pranth Raith Sangh (AIKS) on December 12 organised a 2000-strong peasant rally at Kalburgi (Gulbarga). It comprised a large number of peasant women. The bulk of peasants were from Kalburgi district, and main activists from neighbouring districts like Bijapur, Yadgiri and Bidar were also present.

The main demands were: MSP for red gram (toor) of Rs 7500 per quintal, Impose 35 per cent duty on imported pulses, One time complete loan waiver for peasants, Unlimited work days and rise in wages for MNREGA, Houses and house sites for the homeless, Clearing of outstanding dues to farmers from sugar factories, Farmer friendly crop insurance scheme, Pension of Rs 5000 per month to poor farmers and agricultural workers and Adequate relief of Rs 10,000 per acre for drought.

The Tehsildar came to the public meeting, accepted the memorandum and agreed to hold a special meeting with AIKS leaders to discuss the local issues.

The spirited rally marched for 3 Km through the main market place, from Nehruganj Bus Stand to Jagath Circle, where it culminated in a public meeting near the two statues of Basaveshwar and Dr B R Ambedkar.

The public meeting was addressed by AIKS President Dr Ashok Dhawale, AIKS state vice president Maruti Manpade, district president Sharanbasappa Mamshetty, secretary Ashok Mageri, joint secretary Gauramma Patil, treasurer Shantappa Patil, AIKS leaders from other districts Annaraya Ilager, Yallappa Chinnakar, Mahadevappa and Altaf Inamdar from Nation for Farmers.

All the speakers castigated the anti-farmer and pro-corporate policies of the BJP’s Modi government. They said that farmers’ anger with these policies had an important role to play in the defeat of the BJP in the state assembly elections in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. They hailed the victories of the two AIKS leaders in the Rajasthan assembly elections. They called for a concerted campaign to resoundingly defeat the communal Modi regime in the coming parliamentary elections.

This AIKS rally was excellently covered by print, electronic and social media.