Mumbai: The All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) on Monday said it will intensify protests over farmers’ issues, including falling crop prices, rising input costs, land acquisition, and free trade agreements.
The Sabha will strengthen nationwide protests by bringing together farmers’ organisations on common issues and participate in the national convention of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) in Delhi on July 28 to discuss the issues and further intensify the agitation, it said in a statement on Monday after holding the two-day national meeting in Mumbai.
AIKS national president Ashok Dhawale and national general secretary Vijoo Krishnan said the decisions taken at the meeting would provide fresh momentum to the farmers’ movement.
The meeting of the AIKS Central Kisan Committee was convened at the YMCA Centre on June 28 and 29. The organisation said the government’s policies had aggravated the problems facing the agriculture sector and farmers, necessitating a stronger nationwide movement.
The meeting discussed declining prices of agricultural produce, increasing cultivation costs, crop insurance, land acquisition, fertiliser shortages, loan waiver schemes, the role of the Food Corporation of India (FCI), and sugarcane pricing.
It also discussed the impact of the proposed free trade agreements with the United States, the European Union, and New Zealand on Indian agriculture, according to the release.
The AIKS also resolved to strengthen worker-farmer unity and to participate in the National Struggle Convention, jointly organised by the SKM and Central Trade Unions on July 29 against “anti-people” government policies.
The farmer’s body also decided to participate in the nationwide Jail Bharo movement on August 10 at the district level along with farmers, workers and agricultural labourers.
Marking 90 years of its formation, the AIKS announced that it would organise commemorative programmes across India.
On November 15, the birth anniversary of Birsa Munda, the organisation will hoist AIKS flags and hold meetings, seminars and cultural programmes on farmers’ issues in thousands of villages.
The meeting also decided to hold the next National Conference of the AIKS in Nalgonda, Telangana, from November 18 to 21, the release said.
