Agrarian Perspective on ‘Holy Cow’ Debate

THE April 1 lynching of dairy farmer Pehlu Khan by cow vigilantes belonging to the VHP and the Bajrang Dal in Alwar in Rajasthan has brought to the national attention the agrarian aspects of the debate surrounding ban on cow slaughter. The moral and law and order aspects of the unbridled series of criminal onslaught on innocent persons belonging to the Muslim community by the Sangh Parivar, with the backing of the BJP-led governments, are of grave importance that in the long run could devastate the unity and integrity of the people and the country.

AIKS Delegation Visits Pehlu Khan’s Family

The leaders of All India Kisan Sabha visited Jaisinghpur of Nuh district of Haryana on April 7, to console the bereaved family members of Pehlu Khan, the dairy farmer who was killed by Sangh Parivar organisations. AIKS leaders comprising Hannan Mollah, general secretary, P Krishnaprasad, finance secretary, Master Sher Singh, president of Haryana Kisan Sabha and Manoj Kumar visited the family of the victims. Satvir Singh, state president of CITU, Major S L Prajapathy, Gurgaon District secretary of CPI(M) were also part of the delegation.

AIAWU Bengal Committee Holds Its First Meet

THE newly formed West Bengal state committee of the AIAWU met in Kolkata on March 23, the anniversary of the martyrdom of Bhagat Singh. The meeting was presided over by Tushar Ghosh, state president of the union. The report was placed by Amiya Patro, state secretary. 19 representatives of the different districts of the state reported on their struggles and membership.

BJP Govt Drags India towards Contract Farming

THIS article is an attempt mainly to assess the direction of the Union Budget for 2017-18, whether it will help the peasantry to come out of the present systemic crisis and end rising peasant suicides. This is important especially in the context of substantial increase in the rate of peasant suicides in the over two years of the NDA government.

SBI Chief’s Objectionable Remarks on Farmer Loans

The All India Kisan Sabha general secretary, Hannan Mollah, has written an open letter to the SBI chief Arundhati Bhattacharya on March 23 against the comments she made on writing off loans of the peasantry. Below we publish the text of the letter.

Potato Growers Take to Streets in West Bengal

POTATO growers in West Bengal are enraged, with strings of protests and blockades sweeping through the state. The crisis of the peasants has accentuated as the prices of potato have come down to an all-time low, both in wholesale and retail market. Distress sale has become the order of the day. And, though it is continuing for months, no intervention has been evident from the state government.

Peasantry Will Resist State & Corporate Attack on Land, Agriculture and Livelihood

THE Central Kisan Committee of AIKS met in Delhi on February 15-16 to discuss the prevailing agrarian situation in the country. It has decided to join hands with all like-minded left and progressive organisations of peasants, agricultural workers, dalits and tribals to resist the attack unleased by the Centre and various state governments on land, agriculture and the livelihood of the peasantry. AIKS will intensify the struggle against corporate land grab and the attack on the peasantry and the tribal population.

Land Issue Emerging as Focus of Struggle

Union Budget 2017-18: A Betrayal of the Peasantry

THE union budget presented by the finance minister in days of acute agrarian crisis compounded by the adverse impact of demonetisation on agriculture is a betrayal of the peasantry. The disruptive consequences of demonetisation has led to a further fall in incomes, threatened agricultural production and created uncertainty about any revival of agricultural growth.

KARNATAKA: Red Gram Growers' Convention Demands Remunerative Prices

THE Karnataka Prantha Raitha Sangha (affiliated to AIKS) organised Red Gram/Arhar Dal Growers' Convention at Gulbarga on December 27, 2016. The convention was inaugurated by Vijoo Krishnan, AIKS joint secretary.

AIKS Condemns PM for making a Mockery of Peasants’ Plight

THE All India Kisan Sabha, in a press statement issued on January 2, has condemned Prime Minister Narendra Modi for making a mockery of the plight of the peasantry and poor in his address on December 31, 2016. The peasantry which was reeling under an acute crisis were further pushed into distress by the demonetisation decision. They have suffered severe income losses as well as yield loss due to the decision. Sowing has been delayed and the area sown has fallen in wheat which is bound to have adverse impact on productivity.

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Peoples Democracy

Agrarian Issues