AT the statewide call of the All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) Maharashtra state council, thousands of farmers came on to the streets in several districts on June 1, just two days after the newly elected BJP regime of Narendra Modi at the centre took office.

OVER 300 participants including intellectuals, university professors, college students, scientists, bankers, lawyers, labour unions, women’s organizations, social activists, media-persons and others, deliberated on the continuing agrarian crisis over three days on March 01–03 at the national conference of the ‘Nation for Farmers Forum’ in the India International Centre, New Delhi. Very significantly, the audience in the India International Centre included large numbers of young people, several in their early twenties.

THE All India Kisan Sabha, in a statement issued on February 18,  had pointed out that the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi was only aimed at creating an illusion of a farmer-friendly government while vast majority of the peasantry, especially landless and tenant farmers were excluded from the scheme and the amount per peasant was pittance.

THE massive mobilization and Rural Harthaal called by Kisan organisations in support of the 48 hours all India workers strike were successful in many parts of the country. The rural strike was successful in states of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Karnataka, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Tripura.  In other states there were massive mobilizations and road and rail blockade.  Transport was off the road in large rural tract across the country.  AIKS, Bhumi Adhikar Andolan and AIKSCC have extended support to the workers strike.

THE All India Kisan Committee (AIKC) meeting was held at Rajapalayam, Virudhunagar in Tamil Nadu on July 18-20, 2018. Massive struggles have been planned by AIKS independently and jointly with CITU, AIAWU and with hundreds of kisan, social, class and mass organisations.