THE nationwide protest by peasants and agricultural workers on May 27, 2020 witnessed unprecedented turnout. People came out in large numbers to express their anger against the Narendra Modi led BJP government and different state governments that have remained insensitive to their plight. The protest was called by the All India Kisan Sangharsh Samanvay Samiti (AIKSCC) against the failure of the Narendra Modi led NDA government in ensuring relief to the peasantry during the Covid-19 lockdown and against using the extraordinary situation to aggressively pursue pro-corporate reforms at the expense of the peasantry. AIKS along with active solidarity from Centre of Indian Trade Unions and All India Agricultural Workers’ Union as well as constituents of AIKSCC held protests in more than 380 districts and about 6,700 centres as per reports received so far. At all centres, a memorandum was sent to the prime minister highlighting the demands. On behalf of the AIKS centre, the general secretary sent the memorandum to the prime minister.
Given that all sections have suffered a near total loss of livelihood and incomes, the AIKSCC demanded Rs10,000 per month for the next six months. AIKSCC also demanded comprehensive loan waiver to all farmers, assured remunerative price for crops as per C2+50% with guaranteed procurement, waiver of electricity bills, increase of PM-KISAN amount to at least Rs18,000 and to bring landless as well as tenant farmers under its purview. The other demands included full work for six months or wages in lieu under MGNREGA and extension of the scheme to benefit agriculture operations with wage not less than Rs 300 per day, benefit of all government schemes to tenant farmers, extension of public health system to all, free seeds and at least 50 per cent subsidies for other inputs, reduction of diesel price to not more than Rs 22 per litre etc. The plight of migrant workers was raised specifically demanding free public transport to reach them safely back to their homes. Slogans were raised calling for withdrawal of pro-corporate neoliberal policies being aggressively implemented in the name of economic package. Speakers condemned the changes to the Essential Commodities Act and the Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee Act, promotion of E-NAMs, farm-gate procurement by big agri-businesses, allowing foreign direct investment and the push for dilution of land reforms, Model Tenancy Act and Model Contract Farming Act. The solidarity of workers and agricultural workers was encouraging. They warned the government that if immediate steps are not taken to resolve the problems, the next phase would witness a massive upsurge of protests.
In Maharashtra AIKS president Ashok Dhawale and other leaders took part in the protests. In Tripura, despite heavy rains a protest was held at Agartala which was addressed by AIKS joint secretary Jitendra Choudhary and state leaders. Tripura Gana Mukti Parishad and AIAWU, CITU and AIDWA were also part of the protest. In Kerala AIKS joint secretary KK Ragesh participated in the protest at Kannur and state leaders participated in other districts. In Karnataka, Karnataka Prantha Raitha Sangha (affiliated to AIKS) and AIAWU along with constituents of AIKSCC held protests across the state. In Telangana, AIKS vice president Malla Reddy, AIAWU general secretary B Venkat and state leaders participated. In Bengal, the protestors also made specific demands to meet the damages caused by Amphun cyclone and despite the difficult situation masses joined the protest. Different left kisan organisations participated. AIKS joint secretaries Nripen Choudhary and Amal Haldar participated in the protests. AIKS vice president K Balakrishnan and others took part in the protest in Tamil Nadu. AIKS joint secretary Badal Saroj took part in the protest in Madhya Pradesh. Bihar witnessed united protests by all kisan organisations. AIKS joint secretary N K Shukla joined in solidarity in the state. AIKS vice president Amra Ram took part in the protest along with state kisan leaders in Rajasthan. Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Gujarat, Odisha, Jharkhand, Himachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Jammu and Kashmir also witnessed huge participation in the protests.
AIKS congratulates all organisations and the peasants and agricultural workers for making the protest a massive success. AIKS thanks all the organisations that joined in solidarity and resolves to strengthen this unity for greater struggles ahead.
