Mazdoor Kishan Sangharsh Rally: Farmers from 23 states take to streets against government policies

A massive protest, Mazdoor Kishan Sangharsh Rally, was held by farmers from all across the country on Wednesday in the national capital. The protest was against “anti-people” policies of the Modi-led BJP government. Higher prices for their farm produce, waiver of loans and better wages were among their other demands. A group of protesting farmers marched from Ramlila Maidan to Parliament in Delhi. They were shouting anti-government slogans and holding placards with messages for the government.

Further, the protesters warned the ruling BJP that they may have to pay a price for not listening to their demands.The farmers also demanded from the government to ensure the generation of jobs, a minimum monthly wage of Rs 18,000 for workers, halting “forcible” land acquisition as well as a stop on the changes in labour laws.

The rally was organised by Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) and All-India Agricultural Workers’ Union (AIAWU).

“The massive protest is a warning to the BJP government ahead of the Lok Sabha elections as for the last four years it has ignored the demands of the farmers and the workers,” Tapan Sen, general secretary of CITU (a leading trade union) was quoted as saying by PTI.

This was also the first time after India’s independence that farmers, as well as workers, have come together in a rally against the government. The marchers were wearing red caps and carrying red flags while raising slogans against the policies of the BJP government. While addressing the rally, AIKS leader Vijoo Krishnan said that 36,000 farmers committed suicide over the last few years.

“For the last four years, this BJP government has fooled us. It has never done anything for the farmers. The government should give farmers remunerative price as per the recommendations of the Swaminathan Committee,” AIKS general secretary Hannan Mollah was quoted as saying.

As many as 1.5 lakh farmers from 23 states participated in the rally and the preparation for this began several months back. It also affected traffic in various places of Delhi.