THE Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), in a statement issued on September 15, has congratulated the farmers of Rajasthan who have compelled the BJP government in Rajasthan to concede to their major demands through their resolute struggle.

Thousands of farmers participated in the ‘mahapadav’ at district headquarters across the state since September 1. Rasta rokos were held for three days bringing life to a standstill in around 20 districts.

All sections of the common people, particularly the workers and their trade unions extended unstinted support to the struggle of the kisans in the state under the leadership of All India Kisan Sabha. This has forced the adamant government of Vasundhara Raje to call the leadership of the All India Kisan Sabha for talks and concede some of the major demands.

The state government agreed to waive loans up to Rs 50,000 which would benefit eight lakh farmers and to purchase groundnut, green gram and urad dal at minimum support price (MSP) at all district headquarters within seven days, withdraw the hike in electricity rates for drip irrigation, pay the arrears of SC/ST/OBC scholarships immediately, relax the restrictions on the sale of cattle, take measures to protect crops from stray cattle and wild animals etc. The government has also agreed in principle to increase pension to Rs 2,000 per month and write to the government of India seeking implementation of Swaminathan Commission recommendations on MSP.

The struggle and the victory of Rajasthan peasantry is a great inspiration to the working class all over the country.

CITU has called upon the entire working class of the country to follow the example of the Rajasthan farmers and participate in lakhs every day in the three day mahapadav called by the central trade unions near parliament from November 9-11 and force the BJP government at the centre to concede the most genuine demands of the workers.