Farmer Protests to Intensify in the Next Six Months If Govt. Fails to Fulfil Their Demands

After leading the victorious farmers’ long march in Maharashtra this March, the All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) has chalked out a detailed course of the struggle for the next six months to further intensify the peasants’ struggles as decided in its Central Kisan Committee (CKC) meeting held on 19-20 March at Delhi.

April 3 - Delhi Protest

On April 3, marking the first death anniversary of Pehlu Khan, the dairy farmer from Haryana who was murdered by cow vigilantes, AIKS joined the protest march in Delhi’s Parliament Street against such attacks organised by Bhumi Adhikar Andolan (BAA). Simultaneously, today, AIKS is also leading a ‘March to Vidhan Sabha’ in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh against the recently announced BJP- led state government’s anti-farmers’ policies. The farmers are demanding the government to immediately stop the unlawful eviction of farmers from lands and their homes, stop cutting (fruiting) trees, allotment of land to landless peasants, effective implementation of MGNREGA throughout the state among others.

May 23 - Pol Khol – Halla Bol

On May 23, AIKS will join the agitation – ‘Pol Khol – Halla Bol’ called by the Jan Ekta Jan Adhikar Andolan (JEJAA) to “expose the Modi government” as the day marks the fourth anniversary of Narendra Modi-led BJP government. This will be in preceded by week-long protest marches across states highlighting the betrayal of promises made in the BJP manifesto. The campaign will include Leaflet distribution, rallies and public meetings and demonstrations.

August 1 - Indefinite sit-in Strike in front of Parliament

AIKS in collaboration with AIKSCC and BAA will be organizing an indefinite sit-in strike in front of Parliament on August 1. The protest will highlight the anti-farmer governance of the BJP rule.

August 9 - Jail Bharo

In the month of June and July, the farmers’ body will lead a campaign of collecting 10 crore signatures against the betrayal of various promises, including providing MSP for all crops at 50 percent above cost of production, comprehensive loan waiver scheme, monthly pension, restrictions on cattle trade, as well as the failure of Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY). The collected signatures will be submitted to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 9 and on the same day, jail bharo struggles will be held in all state and district headquarters in which nearly two lakh volunteers are expected to participate. The CITU has already extended its solidarity and support for this struggle.

September 5 - Kisan-Mazdoor Sangharsh Rally

On September 5, AIKS will lead a ‘Kisan-Mazdoor Sangharsh Rally’, signifying workers-peasants Unity and organised resistance to the neo-liberal economic policies and communal and casteist forces. The rally will be joined by various mass and class organisations.

Local agitations

In addition to the issues pending all over the country, the AIKS state units will also identify the burning issues in their regions and undertake local agitations further intensifying peasant agitations.

AIKS had recently concluded its 34th All India Conference and gave the call – “Kisan Sabha in Every Village; Every Kisan in Kisan Sabha” and moving ahead further strengthening its organization by uniting peasants in the fight for their rights.