ON September 12, 2023, the Assam chapter of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), a nationwide coalition of farmers’ organisations, organised a state-level convention in Guwahati. This convention was a crucial component of the nationwide campaign aimed at safeguarding agriculture, farmers, and agricultural land while preparing for the next phase of the farmers movement.

The convention took place at the Pragjyoti Cultural Complex auditorium in Guwahati and saw the active participation of ten different organisations. These included the Assam State Kisan Sabha (affiliated with AIKS), the Assam branch of AIKS (Ajoy Bhavan), the All India Kisan Mahasabha, Krisak Mukti Sangram Samity, the Assam Krisi Sramik Union (affiliated with AIAWU), the Sadau Asom Khetiyak Sangha, the Sangrami Krisak Sramik Sangha, the Janajati Adhikar Mancha, the Jeepal Krisak Sramik Sangha, and the All India Kisan Khet Mazdur Sangathan.

The convention was attended by prominent leaders from SKM, including Hannan Mollah, one of the SKM convenors and vice president of AIKS, Atul Kumar Anjan, the general secretary of AIKS at Ajoy Bhavan, Sudama Prasad, an MLA from Bihar and a secretariat member of the All India Kisan Mahasabha; B Venkat, general secretary of the All India Agricultural Workers Union; and Surat Zaman, vice president of the All India Kisan and Khet Mazdur Union.

Dr Hiren Gohain, the former head of the English department at Guwahati University inaugurated the convention. He shed light on the pressing issues confronting Assam's peasants, while criticising both Indian and international monopoly capitalists who had encroached upon Assam's agriculture sector, seizing land and leaving poor farmers in more troubles. He accused the BJP government of allotting large hectares of government land to corporate entities like Patanjali in Assam, all the while displacing landless, poor peasants who had been tilling that land for generations. He explained how villagers had actively participated in the anti-imperialist movement against the British during the struggle for independence, contributing to the nation's liberation. However, post-independence, farmers were unjustly deprived of their lands and other rights. Presently, Assam is home to 580,000 landless families, encompassing roughly 3 million individuals. These families cannot exist in the skies; they require government land to reside on, but they frequently face the threat of eviction.

Dr Gohain underscored that only the Left governments of Kerala and West Bengal have successfully redistributed land to the landless and poor people through reforms in outdated land policies. Conversely, the current government supports large-scale farms and corporate entities within the agricultural sector by gratuitously providing them with vast tracts of land. Their primary objective is not to enhance food production but to further corporate interests in agriculture. He said there is no alternative but to unite in the struggle against tyrannical and anti-farmer governments at both the national and state levels.

Hannan Mollah made a scathing critique of the Narendra Modi government. He emphatically asserted that the 384-day farmers movement in Delhi had reduced the prime minister's arrogance, rendering it inconsequential. Despite being in power, the Modi government had failed to quell a single farmers movement anywhere in the country. This failure stemmed from the unwavering unity of the peasants during this period, and with each passing day, their collective strength had grown. Mollah expressed confidence that the ongoing peasant movement in India would play a pivotal role in securing the defeat of the RSS-BJP government in the 2024 general elections. He commended the unwavering spirit of the convention participants.

Atul Kumar Anjan, Sudama Prasad, B Venkat, and Surat Zaman also addressed the delegates, strongly denouncing Narendra Modi and his government as betrayers. They emphasized the pressing need for a unified peasants' movement and a collaborative agitation involving both workers and peasants. The speakers advocated for the establishment of a massive popular movement to oppose the anti-people RSS-BJP government and to work towards its removal from power.

Balindra Saikia presented the main resolution of the SKM convention on behalf of SKM, Assam. This resolution succinctly outlined the challenges facing the agriculture sector in Assam and the hardships endured by farmers under an anti-farmer government. Furthermore, it introduced a charter consisting of 35 demands. Representatives from ten farmer organisations engaged in a thorough discussion on the resolution.

Tiken Das, chief convenor of SKM, Assam, and the president of Assam State Krisak Sabha, responded to the discussions and delineated the subsequent actions regarding the demand charter. In his remarks, he stressed the imperative need for the full and faithful implementation of the agreement that was reached between SKM and the central government. He also called for a thorough investigation into a land scandal involving the chief minister's family and the reopening of the Namrup Fertilizer Corporation. Additionally, Tiken Das urged peasants, workers, and other segments of society to unite and mobilise to defeat the communal and pro-corporate Narendra Modi government led by the RSS-BJP alliance in the upcoming 2024 general elections.

The resolution, along with the charter of demands, received unanimous approval from the convention. The convention declared September 22 as a day for exerting pressure on the central government to declare floods in Assam, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Haryana as a national disaster. They also designated October 3 as 'Black Day' and planned to stage a dharna in front of Raj Bhavan from November 26-28, responding to SKM's calls.

SKM, Assam, is set to organise a statewide united and sustained movement centered on the 35-demand charter. In November, a dedicated day will be observed throughout the state to demand minimum support price (MSP) for all crops and the enactment of legislation guaranteeing MSP.

The convention saw the participation of leaders from the joint platform of trade unions, including Biren Sarma, Biren Kalita, and Ramen Das. The proceedings were overseen by a presidium comprising Jayanta Gogoi, Gajendra Barman, Piyarul Islam, Deben Sarma, Pitrus Surin, Kabi Rabha, Akramul Haque, Osman Goni, and Rajani Daimari. Jayanta Gogoi delivered the concluding speech on behalf of the presidium, emphasizing the need for a united struggle of workers and peasants.

At the outset of the convention, Gajendra Barman, secretary of Assam State Kisan Sabha, presented a condolence resolution on behalf of SKM, Assam, in memory of the martyrs of the Delhi kisan movement, the victims of ethnic violence in Manipur, singer Sudakshina Sarma, economist and writer Ananta Kalita, and artist Kiran Sankar Roy. A minute of silence was observed in their honor.

Approximately 1,500 peasant representatives from across the state participated, with the Assam State Krisak Sabha contributing the highest number of around one thousand representatives. It is noteworthy that during the convention, AIKMS (All India Kisan Mazdoor Sabha) expressed their willingness to join SKM, Assam, which was welcomed by SKM, Assam. This expansion of the joint platform of farmers was seen as a positive development.

Eminent intellectuals from the state, including Prof. Abdul Mannan and Dr Ghanashyam Nath, as well as democratic movement leader Suprakash Talukdar, were also present at the convention.