People's Democracy

THE Central Kisan Committee (CKC) of the All India Kisan Sabha at its meeting held in Bangalore on May 27-28, 2002 decided to organise a protest fortnight from August 17 to September 1, 2002 through out the country against the disastrous agricultural policies of the government in particular and against its policies of liberalisation, privatisation and globalisation in general. These protests will take different forms and will culminate in huge protest rallies in the state capitals and district centres on September 11- the kisan day. As part of this campagin, AIKS will raise the issues of price crash of agricultural produces, minimum support price, timely procurement, strengthening of PDS, providing credit facilities, crop insurance, power, irrigation, implementation of land reforms etc.

The committee meeting also decided that AIKS will participate in full strength in the NPMO (National Platform of Mass Organisations) campaign fortnight from June 19 to July 4, 2002, against the divisive and fascistic actions of the RSS-VHP-BJP combine and in favour of the demand for dismissal of the Narendra Modi government in Gujarat for its active colloboration in the genocide. The committee felt that in this campaign, there is need to stress that maintaining of communal harmony and unity of the people is a must in order to carry forward the fight against the anti-people and pro-MNC’s economic and agricultural policies of the BJP-led NDA government.

The committee also decided to celebrate the occasion of completion of 25 years of Left Front rule in West Bengal by organising meetings of AIKS cadres and sympathisers all over the country. In these meetings it will be explained how the peasant movement of Bengal helped in strengthening of the Left Front government and vice-versa. The West Bengal unit of AIKS will arrange to send their leaders to such meetings in as many states as possible.

The committee directed its state units to review the land struggles conducted so far, and depending on the local situation plan out further struggles for distribution of surplus ceiling lands, government wasteland etc. It has also suggested that movements on demands for providing protection to share croppers, for providing pattas to the forest dwellers etc. should be launched by the state units. The committee also requested state units to take up the question of social atrocities and caste discrimination against dalits and other weaker sections on an urgent basis.

While asserting that AIKS is not opposed to scientific and technological development in agricultural sector, the committee made it clear that India should not be made a testing ground for MNC seed companies. Saying that any GM or Bt seed must not be introduced in Indian agricultural sector without proper research done by a government agency, the committee demanded that the Indian government has to take full responsibility for any damage done to the health of our people, animals, plants and environment due to such GM/Bt seeds.

It has requested those state units who are yet to organise state conventions on tribal issues to do so soon in order to organise an all India tribal convention at the earliest. The committee also finalised the dates and venue of 30th all India conference of AIKS. It will be held at Jalandhar, in Punjab, from March 6 to 9, 2003. All state conferences will be completed before January 31, 2003. It has also been decided to improve and regularise the publication of the central bulletin of AIKS.

The meeting adopted two resolutions - one on the campaign for communal harmony and another on the 25th anniversary of Left Front government of West Bengal. At the outset the CKC paid homage to the martyred comrades, Ram Nath Mahto (Bihar), Dhananjoy Kaipeng (Tripura) and others who have sacrificed their lives for the cause of toiling masses, communal harmony and national unity.