THE Karnataka Prantha Raitha Sangha (AIKS) on December 12 organised a 2000-strong peasant rally at Kalburgi (Gulbarga). It comprised a large number of peasant women. The bulk of peasants were from Kalburgi district, and main activists from neighbouring districts like Bijapur, Yadgiri and Bidar were also present. 

Toor and sugarcane are the two main crops in the area. The main demands were: MSP for red gram (toor) of Rs 7,500 per quintal; impose 35 per cent duty on imported pulses; one time complete loan waiver for peasants; implementation of the Swaminathan Commission recommendations; unlimited work days and rise in wages for MNREGA; houses and house sites for the homeless; clearing of outstanding dues to farmers from sugar factories; farmer friendly crop insurance scheme; pension of Rs 5,000 per month to poor farmers and agricultural workers and adequate compensation of Rs 10,000 per acre as drought relief.

The spirited rally marched for 3 kilometres through the main market place, from Nehruganj Bus Stand to Jagath Circle, where it culminated in a public meeting near the two statues of Basaveshwar and Dr B R Ambedkar. 

The public meeting was addressed by AIKS president Ashok Dhawale, AIKS state vice president Maruti Manpade, district president Sharanbasappa Mamshetty, secretary Ashok Mageri, joint secretary Gauramma Patil, treasurer Shantappa Patil, AIKS leaders from other districts Annaraya Ilager, Yallappa Chinnakar, Mahadevappa and Altaf Inamdar from Nation for Farmers. 

All the speakers castigated the anti-farmer and pro-corporate policies of the BJP's Modi government. They said that farmers' anger with these policies had an important role to play in the defeat of the BJP in the state assembly elections in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. They hailed the victories of the two AIKS leaders who fought as CPI(M) candidates in the Rajasthan assembly elections. They called for a concerted campaign to resoundingly defeat the communal Modi regime in the coming parliamentary elections.

The Tehsildar came to the public meeting, accepted the memorandum and agreed to hold a special meeting with AIKS leaders to discuss the local issues. 

This AIKS rally was well covered by print, electronic and social media.

LECTURE ON AGRARIAN CRISIS

On December 12, a lecture on the topic 'The present agrarian crisis and the way out' was held at the Gulbarga University, Kalburgi, Karnataka. 

It was delivered by Ashok Dhawale, who analysed various aspects of the agrarian crisis, the reasons for the same, the growing resistance of the peasantry and the alternative policies that are essential to combat this crisis.

Dr H T Pote, director of the University Kannada Department and a Buddhist/Ambedkarite scholar, was in the chair. Maruti Manpade made the introductory remarks.

Kashinath Ambalagi, well known Hindi writer and Altaf Inamdar were among those present.

The programme was attended in large numbers by students and faculty members of Gulbarga University.