India: Farmers from All over India Descend on Delhi by Harsh Thakor

Democracy and Class Struggle critically supports the mass movement of farmers in their fight against the corporate domination of Indian agriculture.

THIS IS THE TRUE VOICE AND IMAGE OF INDIA. EXPOSING THE REAL FACE OF GLOBALIZATION.SALUTE THE DEATH DEFYING COURAGE OF FARMERS TO CHALLENGE THE BJP GOVT WHOSE POLICIES HAVE LITERALLY ENSLAVED THEM TO THE CORPORATES.

THE FARMERS LIT THE SPARK OF RESISTANCE WHICH TURNED INTO A PRAIRIE FIRE AND ILLUMINATED NOT ONLY THE CAPITAL DELHI BUT THE ENTIRE NATION WITH THEIR SPIRIT.

EVEN IF RULING CLASS PARTIES WERE INVOLVED THE RALLY VOICED THE WRATH OF THE ENTIRE PEASANTRY OF INDIA.THE RALLY HIGHLIGHTED THE UTTER APATHY OF THE GOVT TO REDRESS ANY GENUINE GRIEVANCE OF THE PEASANTRY AND LITERALLY BLESS THE CORPORATES.GAVE A TELLING BLOW TO THE FASCIST HINDUTVA FORCES.TURBULENCE OF FARMERS REMINDED ONE OF A STORMY OCEAN REMINISCENT OF HE BRITISH COLONIAL DAYS.

SUCH A PLATFORM MUST BE SHAPED TO GIVE A CUTTING EDGE TO THE REVOLUTIONARY STRUGGLES AND DEMANDS OF THE POOR AND LANDLESS PEASANTRY AND NOT JUST TAIL THE RICH PEASANTRY.

Around 15,000 farmers converged from all over India like Tami Nadu,Andhra Pradesh,Punjab,Maharashtra,Telengana,Orissa etc.to the Capital city of Delhi They symbolized the depth of opression of the Indian peasantry who are literally enslaved by the grip of the pro-corporate policies of the BJP govt. The atmosphere of a turbulent ocean was created reminiscent of a red spark turning into a prairie fire illuminating the capital.

Even if not quantitatively of such a high magnitude qualitatively it was a historic event.It won the support or sympathy of a large number of intellectuals and middle class sections who volunteered to supply food.No doubt ruling class Opposition party forces participated with their leaders adessing the rally but they could not derail the framers agitation from the basic burning issues.or distort its essence.

Morally the opposition leaders literally had to stoop down to the peasantry.A very wide range of organizations participated which was progressive.in building broad based unity.Above all it comprised of the rich peasantry,poor peasantry,landless agricultural labourers and Adivasis.thus building the united front.It was a fitting bow to the fascist Hindutva forces who wish to divert people from their burning issues by adopting policy of divide and rule.Promoted the spirit of true nationalism and secularism.

The major issue was for the implementation of remunerative prices for farmers ,loan waivers ,cancellation of debts and compensation to families of suicide victims.The leaders summed up how in essence every move of the Narendra Modi led BJP govt. was anti-people ,narrating how a free licence was given to the Adanis and Ambanis to loot the land and resources of farmers and Adivasis.The true consequence of globalisation and liberalization on agriculture was explained in depth.The issues revealed how semi-feudalism was still a major ingredient in agriculture with the peasantry literally becoming victims of the middlemen playing the role of moneylenders.

Inspite of great inroads of Imperialism and capitalism feudalism still played a determining role.

On the 1st day the peasants assembled at Ramila Maidan.where all the leaders of the organizations adressed the rally.on the 30th the farmers marched to the Parliament.vociferously raising slogans.It was most impactful march illuminating the torch of resistance as it proceeded and winning the hearts of many a citizen of the capital. Significantly the rally was blocked by the police just reaching the parliament hose where the marchers sat down and the leaders addressed.

From the Communist revolutionary camp the biggest contribution in the event was made by the Bharatiya Kisan Union(Dakaunda) followed by the All India Kisan Mazdoor Sabha led by the C.P.I..(M.L.) New Democracy.

One must salute the leaders and cadre of the participating organizations for making working so ardously and making such meticuluos preparations.It was a testimony of how they led the farmers in their day to day class struggles .The Adivasi march in Mumbai a few days before was a perfect illustration.

Even if clear cut class polarization not prevailing due to influence of ruling class and non-marxist trends it prepares the ground for a platform to unite the broad peasantry to counter the merciless pro-imperialist or pro-corporate policies of the ruling BJP govt .

What is most important is that the farmers do not have illusions or be swayed by the promises of the alternatives of the ruling class opposition parties like Congress,Aam Addmi party or even the CPI.CPM.They must be educated that in essence all of them are part and parcel of the oppressive semi-feudal,semi colonial rotten democracy.with no concrete programme for combating imperiailism or feudalism at its grassroots.Otherwise such organizations in the rally in Delhi would simply be tailing the demands of the landlords and rich peasantry.




REPORT FROM COUNTER CURRENTS

Farmers from across the country converged and marched to the parliament of India in New Delhi demanding a special session to discuss their problems. They were stopped near Parliament Street Police station in the national capital, where their leaders addressed the protesters.

The farmers, who have been camping at the Ramlila ground since Thursday, began their march to Parliament Street around 10.30 am amid heavy policy deployment.

The farmers are demanding a special session of parliament to discuss crop support prices, a nationwide waiver of farm loans amid rising fertilizer costs and other agricultural inputs. The government’s procurement agencies, which are mandated to purchase agricultural produce at guaranteed rates, buy only a small portion of total output, leaving millions of farmers across the country at the mercy of middlemen

About 800 million people of India’s 1.3 billion depend directly or indirectly on farming, with agriculture accounting for about 16 percent of the economy. The country is the world’s top grower of cotton and the second-biggest producer of wheat, rice and sugar.

Farmers from 24 states have also joined the protest to press for their demands, including debt relief and remunerative prices for their produce. Some farmers traveled for more than 2,000 kilometers from different parts of the country to reach New Delhi to participate in the two-day protest.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi addressed the rally and said “If the loans of industrialists can be waived off, then the debt of farmers must be waived off as well. I assure the farmers of India, we are with you. Don’t be scared.”

Participating in the mega farmers’ rally in Delhi, Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal demanded that the central government should immedietly implement the recommendations of the Swaminathan Commission. He said if the Modi government fails in doing this, farmers will give a befitting reply in the 2019 Lok Sabha election. “Five months are left for the Lok Sabha election. I demand that the central government should implement the recommendations of the Swaminathan Commission.”

The key recommendation of the Swaminathan commission report was that MSP be set at 1.5 times the cost. For instance, if the cost of producing a particular crop is Rs 1,000 per quintal, the MSP should be Rs 1,500 per quintal.

NCP leader Sharad Pawar said “We will bring in a necessary legislation to solve issues of the farmers in distress. We don’t have numbers, but will do whatever we can do to pass the two private member bills in Parliament”

Communist Party of India (Marxist) general secretary Sitaram Yechury referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah as the two eldest Kaurva’s — Duryodhan and Durshaasan — ill-famous for bringing the dynasty down.

The farmers are protesting under the aegis of the All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee (AIKSCC), which is a coalition group of over 200 farmer organisations from across the country. The coalition is also demanding that parliament pass two bills prepared by the AIKSCC – the freedom from indebtedness bill and a bill to guarantee remunerative MSP.

Between 1995 and 2016, 3,33,398 farmers committed suicide. That is over 15,000 suicides every year, 1,200 suicides each month or 42 suicides per day.