AIKS Salutes the United Struggles of the Peasantry in Maharashtra and Elsewhere!

All India Kisan Sabha congratulates the peasantry in Maharashtra for the inspiring united struggle and successful Maharashtra Bandh on 5^th June, 2017 called jointly by different peasant organisations. AIKS extends solidarity to the historic united movement of the peasantry. The Maharashtra Rajya Kisan Sabha (affiliated to AIKS) has been playing a leading role, to support the historic state-wide Peasant Strike which saw unprecedented participation and was a massive success across the state.

Hundreds of towns, mandis, roads, shops, government offices etc were closed down by lakhs of farmers who came on to the streets in solidarity with the struggle. The unprecedented Peasant Strike, which began on June 1, with farmers refusing to get their produce like milk, vegetables and fruits to the market continued for the fifth day. The main demands of the struggle were loan waiver, implementation of the Swaminathan Commission recommendation on remunerative prices, pension for peasants and agricultural workers etc. The struggle intensified after the betrayal by two self-styled leaders Jayaji Suryavanshi and Sandip Gidde who arrived at a compromise with the Chief Minister without any of the demands being met and unilaterally declared a withdrawal of the Strike at dawn on 3^rd June. The Kisan Sabha exposed this betrayal and rallied the peasantry to continue the struggle. The Peasant Strike will continue with strength and on 8^th June, a meeting of the new coordination committee that has been formed will meet at Nashik and decide on the future course of struggle. All Left and other opposition parties, trade unions like CITU, AITUC and others, AIAWU, AIDWA, SFI and DYFI have been actively supporting the Peasant Strike.

Across the country massive protests by the peasantry are being witnessed against the betrayal of Narendra Modi-led BJP Government at the Centre and different State Governments that are following anti-peasant policies. Lakhs of peasants and agricultural workers came out on streets of Kolkata for Nabanna Rally on 22^nd May, 2017. It was met by brutal repression and one comrade has been killed.

Com.Salil Basu who was part of the Nabanna protest in solidarity succumbed to injuries suffered in the barbaric police action. AIKS pays tributes to martyr Com.Salil Basu and extends heartfelt condolences to his family and comrades. AIKS condemns the Mamata Banerji led TMC Government which is responsible for his death.

Farmers have been on the struggle path and protests took place in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana against price crash of chilli. Tamilnadu also has been witnessing massive united struggles against the insensitive handling of the unprecedented drought situation by the Centre as well as State Governments. Massive protests are going on in Madhya Pradesh demanding loan waiver, fair prices for crops especially onion and pulses and proper compensation for crop loss. Protests across the country against anti-farmer Notification restricting cattle trade are also going on.

On 9^th June AIKS calls upon peasantry across the country to burn the anti-farmer rules restricting cattle trade. Solidarity actions will be held in support of these united struggles.

Sd/-
Amra Ram, President
Hannan Mollah, General Secretary

6^th June, 2017