In a national convention held in Jalandhar, Punjab on 16th January, the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) called for a nationwide ‘Grameen Bandh’ (rural strike) on February 16th against the anti-farmer polices and betrayals by Modi government.
Speaking at the convention, Rajaram Singh, National General Secretary of All India Kisan Mahasabha said that the Modi-BJP government has betrayed the farmers and toiling masses of this country. Remembering the 735 martyrs of the farmers movement against three farm laws, he said that while the whole country and its industries were struggling under the COVID pandemic, it was the farmers who ensured a 3% increased growth rate and supporting the ailing economy. But instead of strengthening the agricultural sector and farmers, the Modi regime wants to enslave the farmers and give away the sector to the corporates. We have seen how thousands of farmers, gathered at the Delhi borders, forced the government to withdraw the pro-corporate farm laws. This shows the power and determination of the farmers and toiling masses.
SKM in its statement noted that the bandh is being called to oppose the pro-corporate, anti-farmer BJP Government at the Centre which has formulated and implemented policies to deliberately worsen the economic condition of farmers to aid and abet grabbing of farmers’ land and snatching their livelihoods by corporates who can then take control of crop production and food supply chain and monopolise it for profiteering and further oppress the common people.
“Today, along with protecting the farmers rights and agricultural sector, the farmers movement is also determined to save the country from ‘divide and rule policy‘ of Modi regime. During the freedom struggle, farmers movement played a crucial role in country’s independence. Our freedom fighters had envisaged an egalitarian and democratic India. But today, the BJP regime is hell bent on destroying all the democratic and constitutional values. The bandh [strike] of February 16th is also a clarion call to save this country, its democracy and constitution,” added Com. Rajaram.
The platform of central trade unions and federations have also joined the call of February 16th, with trade unions organising country-wide industrial and sectoral strike against the increased attacks on working class and their rights.
In a statement, AICCTU said that Modi’s Vision of 2047 is to create an army of labour who cannot even stake a claim for any regularisation, wage security and social security, as per law. Workers in the country are facing a very serious crisis of their livelihood because of low wages, skyrocketing price rise and lack of any security, including job and social security. The working class cannot allow the disastrous BJP regime to make a comeback because it will be a major disaster in the lives of the toiling masses of the country. The workers and farmers have resolved to defeat Modi and the BJP in the coming elections so as to avoid a disaster for the country, for the people and for the workers. The resolve of the working class in 2024 is to overthrow the disastrous BJP regime from the echelons of power!
