The Akhil Bhartiya Kisan Mahasabha (AIKM) called for nationwide protests on 15 June against the firing on farmers in Mandsaur, Madhya Pradesh that led to the death of 6 farmers while several others were severely injured. The farmers had been protesting against the governmental apathy to the deteriorating conditions of farmers and the rapidly increasing incidents of farmers’ suicides. Protests were held in all states, here are few reports.
In Haryana, the effigy of the Madhya Pradesh CM, Shivraj Singh Chauhan was also burnt and a mass meeting was held in Karnal. Addressing the protest, Com. Prem Singh Gehlawat, National Vice President of the All India Kisan Mahasabha demanded the dismissal of the Shivraj Singh government in Madhya Pradesh which had committed murders of the farmers. He added that the state of farmers in the BJP ruled states is becoming worse by the day, however the governments in these states and at the centre are aggressively pushing capitalist policies. It is important at this juncture to unite against the attacks on rights of farmers and workers and on democracy that are being regularly unleashed by casteist feudal forces and also against creation of communal frenzy and the hate campaigns. Com. Prem Singh also spoke about the increasing assaults on the Dalits, minorities and women in Haryana since the Khattar led BJP government came to power in the state. In Haryana too, the Khattar government instead of listening to the farmers when they were protesting in Shahbad ordered brutal lathicharge against them. Incidents of farmer suicides have been reported in Haryana too.
In Uttarakhand a procession was taken out by All India Kisan Mahasabha and CPI(ML) in Lalkuan. The protestors burnt the effigy of Madhya Pradesh CM. Addressing the protestors, the state president of All India Kisan Mahasabha, Purshottam Sharma said that the farmers across the country are waging a movement to ensure waiving off loans and a guarantee of minimum support price for their produce. However, the BJP government wants to suppress their voice by firing bullets on them. The Modi government has failed on every front. In the 3 years since Modi government came to power, the farmers’ suicide have increased by 41%. The support price for farmers on the other hand has reduced by 15%. Bahadur Singh, the district secretary of AIKM said that nearly 60% people of this country are dependent on agriculture and yet the government of the day has no policy to ensure that agriculture could be profitable for them.
In Jharkhand, a protest march was taken out in Bagodar which was followed by a protest meeting. The protestors demanded justice for the farmers in Madhya Pradesh and also demanded justice for the tribal youth Motlilal was killed in a fake encounter in Peertand in Jharkhand. In Dhurki, an ‘ekjutda’ sabha (Unity Assembly) was organized at the Taatidiri Chowpal to protest against the increasing attacks on farmers, workers, students, Dalits and other oppressed sections. Protest demonstration was also organized in Birni.
Protests were also organized in several other parts of the country including in Andhra Pradesh, Tripura, West Bengal, Assam, Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra. In Madhya Pradesh all left parties called for a statewide protest day on 12 June which was attended by large number of peasants and other sections of society in various districts.
