THE farmers must launch a united and determined fight against the government’s farm policies which are against farmers. The recent victory of the farmers in Delhi should serve as an inspiration to all the fighting people, said AIKS joint secretary, Vijoo Krishnan on December 18, at Anantapuramu. He was addressing the participants of the Rythu Coolie Rakshana Padayatra, which culminated in a dharna staged outside the district collector’s office. This dharna was on the concluding day of the 28-day padayatra through 300 villages and 63 mandals by two teams in the district.

He said the BJP had promised before the 2014 elections that it would ensure a price more than 50 per cent of the cultivation cost for all agricultural produce. But it forgot it after the elections.“The union agriculture minister has gone on record saying that it is only an electoral promise made to garner votes. The farmers, however, showed the government its place and forced it to withdraw the three draconian farm laws,” Vijoo said.

Padayatra started on November 20, and culminated on December 18, covering 31 mandals, travelling 182 kilometres. This yatra went through 182 villages under the leadership of V Rambhupal, vice president of Kisan Sabha and the secretary of CPI(M) Anantapuramu (north) district. Team of eight members walked all the way while about 60 people joined them on the way and took part in the padayatra for some days.

They addressed around 23 large meetings and 196 local/street corner gatherings. During the yatra, dharnas were organised in front of 16 tehsil offices and 72 village secretariats on local issues. Bus yatra went on from December 5-15, in the south district covering 450 kilometres in 32 mandals. Imtiyaz, agriculture workers’ union leader and the district secretary of CPI(M) Anantapuramu (south) led the team of 20 people.

A rally was taken out from Ballari Bypass Road to the district collector’s office and a huge dharna was held on December 18. AP Vyavasaya Karmika Sangham, state president, D Subba Rao greeted the rally and demanded the government to solve the problems of farmers and agricultural workers.