Kisan Sangharsh Rally Sends Warning To Anti-Peasant Narendra Modi Government
Call for United Struggles Against Neo-Liberal Policies and Corporate Loot
Thousands of peasants and agricultural workers from across the country assembled in Delhi for the Kisan Sangharsh Rally and marched to the Parliament against anti-farmer policies of the Narendra Modi led BJP Government. The farmers defied the crisis created by the demonetisation decision and came all the way from the farthest corners of India from Kerala and Tamil Nadu in the South to Jammu & Kashmir in the North, Assam, Tripura and Manipur in the North East to Gujarat in the West. In the chill Delhi winter they started assembling at Ram Lila Maidan from 23rd November, morning onwards. They marched to the Parliament raising slogans against the BJP Government and demanding measures to overcome the agrarian crisis.
Four Kisan Sangharsh Jathas from Virudhunagar, Kanyakumari, Jammu and Kolkata travelling around 20,000 KM over the last 22 days interacting with the farmers and rural poor. The Jathas with the Slogan “Save Agriculture, Save Peasantry, Save Country” and call “No to Suicides, Unite to Fight against Neo-Liberal Policies and Communal Forces”. The Kisan Sangharsh Rally demands pro-peasant alternative agricultural policies that will resist corporatisation of agriculture with the call for strengthening agricultural cooperatives.
The Massive Rally was presided over by Amra Ram, President of All India Kisan Sabha. N.K.Shukla, Chairperson of the Reception Committee and Joint Secretary, AIKS delivered the welcome address. Addressing the Rally Amra Ram, Hannan Mollah, General Secretary of AIKS, Vijoo Krishnan, P.Krishnaprasad and Ashok Dhawale who led the four Jathas hit out at the BJP Government’s betrayal of the peasantry. Speakers warned the Government that policies that promote corporate loot of land, water, forest and mineral resources will be resisted building broadest unity. They said Kisan Sabha will organise united struggles for a pro-peasant alternative. The Rally also gave a call to defeat divisive forces and fight against caste oppression as well as communal forces. (Memorandum is attached)
Sitaram Yechury, Member of Parliament and General Secretary of the CPI(M) speaking at the Rally pointed out to the growing hardships of the peasantry and rural poor after this Government has taken over. Referring to the massive concessions to corporate companies and the mounting troubles for masses due to the demonetisation decision he called for united protests on 28th November. He assured that the Left Members of Parliament will raise the demands of the Rally in the Parliament.
CITU President A.K.Padmanabhan, AIAWU Joint Secretary Suneet Chopra, DYFI President M.B.Rajesh, SFI General Secretary Vikram Singh, and Rakesh Singha, Himachal Pradesh Apple Growers’ Association and others greeted the Rally. Jitendra Choudhary, Convenor Adivasi Adhikar Rashtriya Manch alswo expressed solidarity. Atul Anjaan, General Secretary, AIKS (Ajoy Bhavan), Sunilam, Bhoomi Adhikar Andolan, Medha Patkar, NAPM also spoke in solidarity and called for strengthening united action against Neo-Liberal Policies and corporate land grab as well as loot of resources.
The Rally gave a call to build united struggles against Neo-Liberal policies in States, launch militant struggles in suicide prone regions for ensuring effective relief. It also called upon the peasantry and rural poor to protest against the hardships caused due to the demonetisation drive on 28th November.
