AIKS Conference to Chart Alternative Policies to Save Agriculture from Corporatisation

Thrissur: With the call to ‘Struggle, Consolidate and Advance for an Alternative’, the 35th conference of the All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) began in Thrissur on December 13. The four days conference will end with a massive rally and public meeting on December 17, after completing the tasks including its plans for the next three years and approving the report of the general secretary. 

The conference will deliberate on the pending demands of the farmers including Minimum Support Price (MSP) for produce, withdrawal of the Electricity (Amendment) Act and loan waiver while charting out plans to defeat the pro-corporate policies of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led central government through united struggles of different farmers unions across the country.

A special session was held in which leaders of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) including Rakesh Tikait, Atul Kumar Anjan and Rajaram Singh felicitated the conference and called for a united struggle to save the agricultural sector from the cusp of privatisation. 

An archival project 'Peoples' Archive of the Farmers Protest was also released during the session. 

VICTORIOUS STRUGGLE OF THE FARMERS - AN INSPIRATION 

The AIKS, with a membership of 1.17 crore across 29 states and Union Territories (UT), is the largest labour organisation in the country. The organisation is holding its 35th all-India conference in Thrissur, Kerala. Since its founding on April 11, 1936, the AIKS has been leading several struggles of paddy and sugarcane farmers, and milk producers besides mobilising small and marginal farmers. 

The flag for the conference was hosted by the national president Dr Ashok Dhawale in the K Varadarajan Nagar, amidst sloganeering from around 730 delegates. The martyr flames brought in memory of the Telangana Martyrs and KeezhVenmani Martyrs from Tamil Nadu were lit by E P Jayarajan, the joint secretary of the AIKS in the venue of the public meeting. 

Dr Ashok Dhawale, president of the AIKS hoisted the flag to mark the commencement of the 35th all-India conference

Speaking to NewsClick after presenting the general secretary report, Hannan Mollah said that the conference is being held after the massive success of the huge and peaceful protests of the farmers. 

“The farmers emerged victorious despite the atrocious actions of the BJP government which dug pits and erected concrete walls across the national highways to prevent us from marching to meet the prime minister,” he said.

The martyrs' flames of Kisan movements led by Vijoo Krishnan and P Krishna Prasad reached Kodiyeri Balakrishnan Nagar, the location of the public meeting. 

The farmers were prevented from submitting a memorandum to the Prime Minister to register their protest against the three farm laws. “After arguing that the laws are in favour of the farmers, the BJP government withdrew the black laws. But, the farmers are aware of the continuous betrayal of the Narendra Modi government and hence we want to sustain the struggle,” Hannan Mollah said. 

‘RETAIN FARMER-BASED AGRICULTURE’

The AIKS has led successful struggles in Rajasthan and Maharashtra in recent years, with the Long Marches held in these states receiving national attention. 

The SKM, an umbrella organisation of around 500 farmers, has continuously urged the union government to continue with the farmer-based system and not impose the corporate-based agriculture system.

“Through the farm laws, the BJP government was trying to corporatise agriculture in the country. Such a move to snatch the lands of the farmers and convert them into slaves of the corporates,” Hannan Mollah said. 

The AIKS, a major constituent of the SKM has played a crucial role in the farmer's struggle, given its pan-India presence. “Of the 500 organisations, the AIKS is the one with a presence in all states and union territories. We were able to launch all the struggles announced by the SKM in more than 400 districts which created an impact,” Hannan Mollah said.

The AIKS accused certain sections of the media of projecting the farmers' struggle as a protest from a small section of the farmers. 

Leaders of SKM and All India Democratic Women's Association felicitated the conference

“That's why we announced a Raj Bhavan march in all the states on November 26,  the second anniversary of the commencement of the farmers' struggle. We had submitted the memorandum to withdraw the Electricity (Amendment) Act, and ensure MSP and loan waivers. Narendra Modi being a habitual liar and betrayer, the farmers have lost the confidence in him and have decided to continue further struggles,” Hannam Mollah said. 

The reception committee of the AIKS 35th national conference held a massive proclamation rally in Thrissur.

To decide on the future course of action, the SKM is holding its general body meeting on December 24. “We have already decided to hold movements on January 26, on Republic day and march to parliament during the budget session. The SKM general body will finalise the character of the programs,” Hannan Mollah said.