Kisan Mukti Yatra Received Enthusiastically in Jharkhand
Meetings Held in Ranchi, Ramgarh, Hazaribagh and Koderma
Demands Liberation from Debt for all Kisans in Jharkhand and MSP at 50% above Cost of Production
The Eastern leg of the Kisan Mukti Yatra that entered into Jharkhand on 31st October, 2017 after 3 days of Yatra through Bengal and Odisha. It was received at Ranchi by hundreds of peasants, agricultural workers, Adivasis and Dalits with different organisations representing them present in solidarity. A public meeting was held opposite the Raj Bhavan in Ranchi. On 1st November the Yatra was given a rousing reception at Netaji Subhash Chowk, Ramgarh. Members of the Kisan Mukti Yatra paid floral tributes to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose after which a meeting was held. Hannan Mollah General Secretary of All India Kisan Sabha, Rajaram Singh, General Secretary of AIKMS, Dr.Sunilam, Convenor, NAPM and Avik Saha, Convenor, Jai Kisan Andolan and Prahlad Ingole, Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatan addressed the gathering. The Kisan Mukti Yatra reached Hazaribagh where a press meet was held.
The Jharkhand leg of the Yatra concluded at Pipcho in Jaynagar Block of Koderma where hundreds attended the massive public meeting. Addressing the meeting Hannan Mollah, General Secretary of All India Kisan Sabha attacked the Narendra Modi led BJP Government for betraying farmers and imposing burdens on them. It was against the betrayal and the killing of 6 Kisans in police firing in Mandsaur that 182 organisations came together to form AIKSCC. He said that the unity built in the form of the AIKSCC was unprecedented and will defeat the anti-people economic policies and divisive politics of the BJP led Central Government. He pointed out that while Centre announced RS.1550/Quintal of paddy there was no procurement and said that the Left Democratic Front Government in Kerala was procuring paddy at a record RS.2,300/quintal which is an example to be followed he said.
Dr.Sunilam, NAPM said that the Raghubar Das led BJP Government in the State was working in favour of the land mafia and mining lobby. The move to pass Land Acquisition Act of 2017 and the Mining Momentum was a step in that direction he said. While Corporate companies were given concessions over RS.14 lakh crores the BJP Government was refusing to waive loans of farmers. He also pointed to the plight of people around shooting ranges and said victims were being denied basic compensation.
Rajaram Singh, General Secretary, AIKMS who spoke on the occasion called upon people to unite against the communal forces and Neo-Liberal Economic policies. He said the farmers’suicides and hunger deaths were increasing in Jharkhand under BJP rule. He called upon all sections to take part in the Kisan Sansad at Delhi from 20th November, 2017 in large numbers.
Avik Saha, Jai Kisan Andolan said that the promises of the Narendra Modi-led BJP Government like better prices, doubling farm incomes were fake. He said Kisans have won struggles in Rajasthan and Maharashtra and will be victorious in Jharkhand. The anger of Kisans against the Modi led BJP Government will be channelised to defeat it he said.
Bhuvaneswar Prasad Mahto, Ex-MP and President of Jharkhand AIKS (Ajoy Bhavan) congratulated the AIKSCC for building the unprecedented unity of Peasant organisations and assured that he would work for success of the united struggle.
AIKS Joint Secretary Vijoo Krishnan, Prem Singh Gehlawat and Purushottam Sharma of AIKMS, Prahlad Ingole, Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatan, AIKMS leader from Telangana Chandrasekhar, Kamalendra Pratap, Jai Kisan Andolan, Surjit Sinha, Secretary, Jharkhand Kisan Sabha, Shyam Sundar Mahto, Joint Secretary, Puran Mahto, General Secretary, AIKMS and others spoke.
The Kisan Mukti Yatra will travel in Bihar till 5th November.
