From September 4th there has been a massive peasant agitation in Punjab. What is significant is that peasant organizations belonging to different trends of the Communist movement united together.Such a protracted united struggle has great significance for the peasant movement in Punjab .
Today there is debate whether economic relations have reached the capitalist stage in Punjab.Groups like B.K.U.(Dakaunda) term it as 'capitalist' while Kirti Kisan Union,P.M.K.U,B.KU (Krantikari) and B.K.U (Ugrahan ) term it as semi-feudal.
The demands represented those of the landed peasantry and were supported by organizations of the landless peasantry or agricultural workers.Such agitation narrows the bridge between demands of the landed peasantry and the agricultural labourers.
What is significant in this agitation is that it redress the demands of both the landed peasantry and the landless agricultural workers for compensation.
In Punjab there is a tendency of agricultural labourer organizations tailing behind the organizations voicing demands of the rich peasantry.
It is significant that this protest jointly united peasant organizations supporting various streams of Naxalite groups..A member of the Punjab Khet Mazdoor Union was martyred on the 1st day.
The protest had a huge mobilization in Bhatinda and was supported by the youth organization, Naujwan Bharat Sabha.
The rally represented the broad aspirations of the Punjab peasantry like compensation for suicides .
The apathy of the Punjab govt is shown which is completely incorporating the pro-rich policies of the centre
This protest ia significant sequel to a series of earlier protests for similar demands in various districts.The report on the neglect of the dalit community for potable drinking water is significant.etc.
The peasant agitation struggle has reached proportions of phenomenal depth being one of the most protracted and militant protests n recent years.
A massive rail rook was launched which reached heights of intensity seldom reached before. The hearts of the ruling class party leaders and their supporters were trembling.
They are an example to the peasantry of the entire nation in rising up against the pro-imperialist ruling class policies supporting globalization and creating the base for merciless enslavement of the peasantry leading to suicides
.A Kisan Morcha has been formed in Punjab getting vehement support from all rungs of society. An impact of a tornado has been created by the peasantry of Punjab like a spark turning into a prairie fire.
The peasant activists fought with great determination and tenacity like a military battalion breaking an impregnable blockade and emerging as a thorn in the flesh to the administration defending the ruling class parties.
The peasants indirectly represented the aspirations of the toiling peasantry nation-wide whose hearts are inflamed with anger against the pro-rich policies of the current Narendra Modi B.J.P. government.
Such struggles sow the seeds for a major organized agrarian movement.Significant support has been given by the youth organization-Naujwan Bharat Sabha .In various corners of Punjab solidarity has been built up to the agitation.
At the maximum level of intensity the agitation lit up the roads like a huge bonfire lit.Several marches were held all over. Great response is taking place for the rally all over Punjab.
On October 22nd the 8 peasant organization s have decided to gherao the ministers,ruling party MLA’s .
A major anti-communal agitation is also taking place in Punjab protesting against the nefarious communal politics raised by an incident of 2 religious activists killed in a firing
A relic of Guru Grant Sahib was attacked which incited people of the Sikh community and resulted in the killing of 2 sikh youth.
hSikh activists tried to give a communal colour to the incident.which has had an effect on the entire state.
Democratic organizations like B.K.U, N.B.S,P. M.K.U have taken out peace marches in various blocs of Punjab protesting the communal incident and vying for communal harmony.
The nefarious communal politics of the ruling class parties was exposed.
Roads and buses have been blocked all over Punjab with fury raging in the hearts of the masses.
It has been one of the most organized united protests ever in Punjab with solidarity from all sections.
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t conveys the significance of mass political resistance.
REPORTS ON THE STRUGGLE
1ST PROTEST IN SEPTEMBER
Tribune News Service Bathinda, September 20 A number of farmers who protest entered fourth consecutive day here under different eight farmer unions of Punjab got shot in the arm with getting compensation of Rs 5 lakh for the family of a victim farm labourer, Mandar Singh. Mandar had died of heart attack on the first day before reached the protest venue.
The farmers had kept the dead body of victim at the Civil Hospital and refused to conduct the autopsy until the government gave compensation and a job to victim's kin.
On Sunday, the cremation of the victim farm labourer Mandar Singh of Killianwali village was done while the farmers claimed that cheque of Rs 5 lakh was handed over to victim's wife.
Demanding compensation of Rs 40,000 per acre for every cotton farmer who faced damage of cotton crop this season due to whitefly, farmers continued with their protest in Bathinda.
Today, the BKU (Ekta –Ugraha) state president also spoke on the stage among the other key speakers. Farmers, however, didn't not move a step away from the protest site despite heavy rain.
Women farmers, too, participated enthusiastically in the protest and spoke onstage against the state government for ruining the condition of farmers.
As many as eight farmer unions, including BKU Dkaunda, BKU Ugraha Union, Punjab Kisan Union, BKU Krantikari, BKU Kirti Kisan Union, Jamhuri Kisan Sabha and two different sangarsh committees, who had, earlier, announced to stage protest here against the state government to raise their demand for compensation of Rs 40,000 per acre to each cotton farmer who witnessed damaged due to whitefly attack in cotton belt of Punjab today stage protest.
The farmers are also demanding that the government should provide the compensation of Rs 20,000 to all those labourer families who had got unemployed due to cotton crop damage this time.
Hundreds of farmers from Mansa, Muktsar, Fazilka, Faridkot, and Bathinda are protesting at the site round-the-clock and many ‘farmers Jathas’ daily reach here near the district complex to stage the protest on GT Road in Bathinda.
It’s noteworthy that on September 10, around 35 farmers, including 17 women were injured and hospitalised after a raging bull entered and charged at protesting farmers who had staged their protest near the district complex. President of the Bharitya Kisan Union Ekta-Ugraha Bathinda, Shingara SIngh Mann, said, “Compensation of Rs 5 lakh has been given to the victim's family while a job has been promised by the Bathinda Deputy Commissioner.
Our six vans are moving in villages to create awareness among the farmers about their rights and are motivating them to participate in the protest which is round-the-clock and for indefinite period. The participation of women can be seen at large level. The farmers who faced loss of cotton crop are committing suicides as the state government had failed to compensate them while even now the government had announce a meager compensation to farmers.
About Rs 3,800 crore is needed to compensate farmers of around 9.5 lakh acres that faced loss due to whitefly attack. The government this time had cheated the farmers badly by providing the duplicate pesticides.” Tribune News Service Bathinda, September 2 Seven farm and labour unions under the banner of the ‘Pendu and Khet Mazdoor Union’ today staged a protest near the District Complex in Bathinda.
The round-the-clock protest will be continued till September 4 raising their demands related with the protection of interests and rights of Dalits and agricultural labourers in the state. They demanded that the alleged police oppression against the Dalits and labourers should be stopped.
Other demands include increase in wages under MNREGA up to Rs 500 per person per day and the work under it should be given for all 365 days to all, increase in old age and widow pensions, potable drinking water for people belonging to the Dalit and labour class, possession and allotment of 10 marla plots to homeless and landless labourers,
Rs 3 lakh each for construction on these plots, implementation of the old PDS system where the Dalits and labourers could get ration, Rs 5 lakh compensation and government job for kin of those labourers who had committed suicide due to debt burden, implementation of law that supports giving of 1/3rd of the panchayati land to Dalits for cultivation and no anti-labourer amendments favouring the industry should be made by the Centre. Mahipal, senior leader of the Punjab Khet Mazdoor Sabha, said:
“Allotment of plots to the Dalits and labourers and possession over it is one of the demands we are seeking from the state government since long time.
The Badal-led state government in 1997 gave letters of plot allotments to a number of Dalits and labourers who were homeless and landless but the possession is still awaited.” “A number of times we had raised the issue and held protests but to no avail. This time, we will also highlight the issue of shortage of potable drinking water for Dalits.
Most of the schools are unable to provide potable water whereas a number of schools still rely on hand-pump water that is hazardous to health.
Drinking water is a basic need and the right of every citizen but the state government had failed to provide the same to the Dalit community,” said Mahipal. Bathinda,
September 21 A large number of farmers protesting under eight farmer unions of Punjab today took out a protest march from their protest venue to the Agriculture Department in Bathinda and returned after protesting there for half an hour. The protesters shouted slogans against the state government.
The protest of the farmers entered the fifth consecutive day here under different eight farmer unions of Punjab. Yesterday, the farmers had got a shot in their arm after the kin of a farm labour, Mandar Singh, got compensation of Rs 5 lakh. Mandar had died of heart attack on the first day of the protest. Earlier, the farmers had kept Mandar’s body at the Civil Hospital and had refused to get conduct an autopsy until the government gave compensation and a job to the kin of the victim farm labourer. Mandar’s body was cremated was on Sunday.
Farmers are demanding compensation of Rs 40,000 per acre for every cotton farmer who has faced damage of cotton crop this time due to whitefly. Farmers are continuing with their protest in Bathinda. As many as eight farmer unions, including BKU Dkaunda, BKU Ugraha Union, Punjab Kisan Union, BKU Krantikari, BKU Kirti Kisan Union, Jamhuri Kisan Sabha and two different Sangarsh Committees who earlier had announced to stage protest here against the state government to raise their demand for compensation of Rs 40,000 per acre to each cotton farmer who have witnessed damaged due to whitefly attack in the cotton belt of Punjab.
The farmers are also demanding that the government should provide compensation of Rs 20,000 to all those labourer families who had got unemployed due to cotton crop damage this time. President of the Bhartya Kisan Union Ekta-Ugrahan Bathinda, Shingara Singh Mann, said, “We took out a protest march to the Agriculture Department but all officials left their offices locked after they came to news about our protest march.
We raised anti-government slogans and came back to our protest venue in front of the district complex in Bathinda. About Rs 3,800 crore is needed to compensate farmers of around 9.5 lakh acres that faced loss due to whitefly attack.
The government, this time, has cheated the farmers badly by providing the duplicate pesticides. We are demanding an enquiry against the officials and minister.
Our six vans are moving in several villages to create awareness among the farmers about their rights and are motivating them to participate in the protest which is round-the-clock and for indefinite period.” —
