Chhattisgarh: Kisan Sabha Holds State Conference
Sanjay Parate
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THE fifth state conference of Chhattisgarh Kisan Sabha, affiliated to the All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS), was successfully organised on March 2-3 in Kalyanpur village of Surajpur district. The conference, held after a gap of 11 years, started with a big rally and public meeting. A total of 95 delegates and eight observers participated, discussing the problems of farmers and agriculture in the state and ways to broaden the kisan movement and strengthen the organisation based on an alternative policy.
Addressing the public meeting and open session of the conference, AIKS general secretary Vijoo Krishnan highlighted the need to save the country by removing the BJP from power, which is working against the interests of farmers and workers. The Samyukta Kisan Morcha, formed by farmers across the country, fought for a year and a half and successfully opposed the three farm laws brought in by the Modi led BJP government, which were detrimental to agriculture. Later, the Modi government refused to fulfill the promises made during the farmers' movement. Vijoo Krishnan announced that farmers are once again taking to the streets, culminating in a massive Kisan-Mazdoor Mahapanchayat in Delhi on March 14, aiming to deal a decisive blow to the BJP and oust it from power.
Awadhesh Kumar, AIKS national joint secretary and in-charge of Chhattisgarh, addressed the public meeting, asserting that BJP and Modi are engaged in divisive politics under the guise of religion to undermine struggles on livelihood issues. He emphasized that Modi's government, by obstructing and paralysing the parliament, aims to lead the country towards fascism and implement a caste system based on Manuvad. He emphasized the significance of the ongoing battle to safeguard democracy and the constitution in the country, stating that those who have compromised the country to Adani-Ambani will inevitably face defeat in this fight.
Drawing attention to the ongoing struggles against the plunder of water, forests, land, and natural resources in Chhattisgarh, Sanjay Parate, convenor of Chhattisgarh Kisan Sabha, highlighted that the primary victims of BJP's anti-farmer policies are tribals, dalits, and small and marginal farmers. Despite its relatively small population, Chhattisgarh ranks fifth in the country in terms of farmer suicides. Parate pointed out that farmers in the state are burdened with debt and face displacement from their land, with no viable solutions provided by the BJP government. He asserted that the Left is the only alternative to BJP's pro-corporate, anti-agriculture policies, and in Chhattisgarh, a united front of workers and farmers will be the key to defeating the BJP.
The public meeting and open session were conducted by Kisan Sabha co-convenor Rishi Gupta. The open session featured addresses by M K Nandi, state general secretary of CITU; Bal Singh, general secretary of Adivasi Ekta Mahasabha; Kiran Sinha of AITUC; Anant Sinha of Chhattisgarh Pensioners Welfare Association; Sujan Vind of Laghu Vetan Karmchari Sangh; and Sanjay Singh of Lawyers Union.
The conference was presided over by Rishi Gupta, Jawahar Singh Kanwar, Madho Singh, and Basanti Devi Vishwakarma. Sanjay Parate presented the political-organisational report before the conference. In the report, while discussing the political situation in the country and the world, he spoke about the anti-worker-farmer policies of the Modi government, its efforts to suppress secularism, democracy, and constitutional values, and its communal-fascist intentions. He emphasized the crucial need to defeat the government in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
Analysing the reasons for farmer suicides in Chhattisgarh in the report, he also underscored the agricultural crisis prevailing in the state, and emphasized the need for comprehensive mobilization of the farming community. The report placed special emphasis on organising MNREGA workers, displacement victims, forest produce collectors, milk and vegetable producers, and sugarcane farmers. It called for building a movement on the problems of rural areas, aiming to establish Kisan Sabha in every village and organise each farmer in Chhattisgarh. The report outlined steps to be taken in the coming days for the expansion of the organisation and movement. After discussion, the delegates unanimously adopted the report.
Vijoo Krishnan and AIKS joint secretary Badal Saroj addressed the delegate session of the conference, providing guidance to Kisan Sabha activists. Both speakers emphasized the pivotal role of Kisan Sabha in the formation and movement of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha. They highlighted that in Chhattisgarh, a broad and united farmers' movement could be established by uniting all small and large organisations working for farmers, tribals, and dalits on common demands. They stressed that countering the BJP government's policies in Chhattisgarh that exploit natural resources and hand them over to corporates, requires joint movements based on alternative policies.
During the conference, it was decided to mobilise farmers from Chhattisgarh for the Kisan-Mazdoor Mahapanchayat to be held in Delhi on March 14. Resolutions were also passed on significant issues, including opposition to the destruction of Hasdeo forests, state-sponsored attacks on tribals in Bastar, effective implementation of MNREGA, PESA, and forest rights laws, providing employment and rehabilitation to families affected by land acquisition, and ensuring 200 days of work and Rs 600 as wages under MNREGA.
The conference concluded on March 3 with the election of a new 22-member state committee with Jawahar Singh Kanwar as president, and Kapil Paikra as secretary, and with three vacancies and invitees. Of the 22 members elected and invited to the Kisan Sabha state committee, 14 members, including the president and secretary, are tribals, symbolising the organisation's and movement's reach in tribal areas.
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