Kisan Agitation In Haryana

AGITATING against the indifference of the state government towards the crisis in agricultural sector in Haryana, hundreds of farmers thronged Chandigarh from various districts on March 9. The demonstrators refused to move when the agriculture minister was unable to assure the AIKS leadership to settle the genuine demands despite being convinced of these. The police had put up barricades all over the place.

Braving the inclement weather, the people decided to stay and sleep on the main road leading to Haryana assembly. They cooked meals on the road for which they had come prepared given the insensitive response that was shown during a mass dharna at Hisar collectorate on February 21. It was at that point only that a decision was taken to hold a protest march to Chandigarh on March 9. Within a span of less than two weeks the AIKS state committee leadership made all preparations.

The determination of disciplined farmers including a women contingent forced the chief minister to ultimately yield. He invited the leadership at 8.30 p.m and discussed the demand charter issue wise. Demands included compensation for the crop damage caused due to unprecedented frost that occurred during early January, withdrawal of the water tax instalment that was exempted by previous Chautala regime, deletion of the clause providing for the arrest and imprisonment of the debt ‘defaulting’ farmers and agricultural labourers, changing the arbitrary policy of land acquisition, special development and relief package for the unirrigated regions, providing ownership rights to cultivators and farmers who were given lands on lease etc.

The chief minister had to agree with these issues and assured the delegation to get them examined and implemented. The delegation comprising of Phool Singh Sheokand, Harpal Singh, Ch. Mohar Singh, Dayanand Poonia, Pradeep Singh, Krishan Sarup, Sampat Kaur and others then placed the outcome of meeting with the chief minister before the farmers on March 10 morning. The dharna was lifted and gave a month's time to state government for implementing the promises.

N K Shukla, Lehmber Singh Taggar and Interjit Singh also addressed the farmers on this occasion.  Shukla assured that AIKS, the largest Kisan organisation is staunchly behind the Haryana farmers.

This action of AIKS would certainly give a boost in consolidating and expanding the organisation in Haryana.