AIKS MAHARASHTRA ORGANISES MASSIVE FARMER RIGHTS CONVENTION IN MUMBAI

The massive statewide Farmers’ Rights Convention organised by the All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) Maharashtra State Council in Mumbai on November 12, lashed out at the anti-farmer, pro-corporate policies and the communal and casteist practices of the BJP-RSS-led governments in the state and at the centre, gave a clarion call to participate in strength in the AIKSCC-led Kisan Mukti March to Delhi on November 29-30, demanded a special session of the state assembly and also of Parliament to adopt the two key bills of liberation from farm debt and fair assured prices to farmers and also to discuss the grave agrarian crisis and its related aspects. It also unanimously adopted a 12-point four-page resolution on the burning issues and demands of the peasants of Maharashtra.

Over 5,000 farmers from 23 districts of the state thronged this convention. The main hall fell woefully short, two other halls with screens in the same complex had to be engaged and hundreds of farmers had to be satisfied with sound arrangements on the lawns.

The convention began with the screening of the specially made AIKS film on the historic AIKS-led Kisan Long March from Nashik to Mumbai on March 6-12 this year.

From the AIKS, the chief guest at this convention was AIKS national general secretary and CPI(M) Polit Bureau member Hannan Mollah, ex-MP. It was inaugurated by AIKS former state president J P Gavit, MLA. It was presided over by AIKS national president Dr Ashok Dhawale. AIKS state general sectetary Dr Ajit Nawale placed the main resolution, which was seconded by AIKS state president Kisan Gujar.

The convention was addressed by NCP chief and ex-Union Agriculture minister Sharad Pawar, Congress state chief and ex-chief minister Ashok Chavan, NCP state chief and ex-state finance minister Jayant Patil, leader of the opposition in the state assembly Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, Peasants and Workers Party (PWP) general secretary Jayant Patil, CPI(M) state secretary Narasayya Adam, CPI leader Namdev Gawade and Bhoomi Adhikar Andolan leader Ulka Mahajan.

NCP chief Sharad Pawar lashed out at the Modi government as a “government of national calamity” and called for unity to oust this corrupt, communal and anti-farmer regime in the coming Lok Sabha elections. All the speakers supported the resolution placed by the AIKS in this convention and called for a massive united struggle to defeat the BJP governments in the centre and in the state.

AIKS state working president Arjun Adey welcomed the gathering and AIKS state joint secretary Sunil Malusare proposed the vote of thanks.