In an official press release issued to The Kashmiriyat, All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) mentioned that the union condemns PM Narendra Modi and BJP led Government’s efforts to use the Supreme Court judgment to shirk its responsibility on dealing with the farmers’ demands for repealing the Anti-Farmer Acts and withdrawal of Amendments proposed to the Electricity Act.
The press conference was attended by Hannan Mollah, Vijoo Krishnan, P Krishnaprasad and Major Singh Punnewala.
The statement mentioned that a ‘Mahapadav’ and ‘Kisan Parade’ is planned and progress for 26th of January, 2021.
Preparations are in full-swing for a Mahapadav before Governor Bhawan is planned from 21st to 22nd of Januaary, while in Maharashtra from 24th to 26th, in AP, Telangana and Kerala from 23rd to 25th. In Odisha the event is planned for one day on 23rd January.
The Kisan Parade will begin along with National Flag after the official program on Republic Day at New Delhi and Mazdoor –Kisan Parade in all the districts across the country will take place.
The Central Trade Unions have also decided to actively join these struggles. This is expected to be the largest ever mass protest mobilization in post Independent India. According to the press release – ‘These actions and the massive support for it also from widest sections will give a fitting rebuff to the BJP Government and the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s lies and malicious propaganda. All these struggle action of farmers have been peaceful and will remain peaceful’.
While the ‘Mahila Kisan Diwas’ is all set to be organized and held on 18th January as processions will be held at Village, Block and District level. The statement mentioned – ‘Much criticism has come on the views that women and old persons in the protest should be asked to go back. This is an obvious attack on women’s equality and freedom and should be countered effectively. Slogans on this aspect and the role and rights of women, their contribution in agriculture, their role in democratic and patriotic struggles should be highlighted’.
Farmers are firm in their resolve that the struggle will go with greater strength and will be intensified further with active support of the working class and the masses. This resolve has been displayed in full measure by the burning of the Anti-Farmer Acts on Lohri and Makara Sankranti.
The press release claims that, the BJP Government has misled the Supreme Court, that the protest is restricted to states like Punjab, Haryana etc., and specifically mentioned that there were no protests in Kerala and Karnataka.
While Kerala has been having indefinite sit-in protests at all District Headquarters since 14th December, 2020 and has had numerous protests across the State. The State Assembly passed a unanimous resolution against the three Acts with even the lone BJP Member not opposing it.
Karnataka had a total Bandh on 28th November, 2020 and has had a continuous sit-in in Bangalore and all Districts from 16th December, 2020 onwards. In Bengal Jathas have taken place in more than 20,000 villages and are still going on. Tripura has been having protests in all Districts despite extreme repression and attacks.
Tamil Nadu has had massive protests across the State and massive rally at Thanjavur and all central protest calls have been implemented with an unprecedented response.
Bihar witnessed militant rally conducted successfully at Patna braving police Lathicharge. In Andhra Pradesh, massive tractor rallies took place at Vijayawada and Tirupati.
Telangana has a bus – jatha through all districts with massive protests against the BJP Government. Over thousand Kisan activists from Kerala are reaching Delhi – Shajahanpur border tomorrow to join the struggle front. Thousands of farmers, agricultural workers, share-croppers and Adivasi farmers from Rajasthan, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and Bengal are already part of different struggle fronts at Delhi’s borders.