TN: CPI(M), CITU Hold Road Blockades, Demo in Support of Protesting Farmers

The protesting farmers in Delhi are receiving extensive support from the workers and peasants in Tamil Nadu. The members of the state Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)], All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) and Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) took to the streets from November 30 with rallies and demonstrations in solidarity with the protesting farmers. The CPI(M), AIKS and CITU have also called for continuous protests in the coming days.

Hundreds of rallies, road rokos and demonstrations are continuing across the state in solidarity with farmers, who face brutal repression in the form of tear gas, lathis and water cannons amid chilling weather in the outskirts of Delhi from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led Union government.

The farmers hailing from the neighbouring states of Haryana and Punjab continue their protest as the All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee (AIKSCC) has called for an indefinite picketing of the national capital. 

K Balakrishnan, Tamil Nadu state secretary of the CPI(M), has called for a statewide protest against the BJP government unleashing attacks on the protesting farmers. In a statement published on November 30, the party accused the BJP of betraying the farmers by pushing through the three farm laws in favour of the corporates.

The party also condemned the support extended by the state government, led by the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) to these bills, which continue its claim of being pro-farmers. 

The CPI(M) which has been opposing the three farms laws, took out support rallies and demonstrations from November 30 after the marching farmers were treated brutally in the borders of the NCT of Delhi. The party cadres tried to lay siege to different central government offices and held road rokos across the state.

The Central Chennai district committee of the CPI(M) attempted to lay siege to the Shastri Bhawan. The cadres tried to enter the building on December 1 after which the police wielded their canes and detained the protestors.

Also read: Tamil Nadu Farmers’ Groups, Opposition Parties Join Hands for Massive Protests against Farm Bills

G Selva, secretary of CPI(M) Central Chennai, told NewsClick, “We strongly condemn the attack on the protesting farmers, who are holding a peaceful march to Parliament. The three farm laws will take away the Minimum Support Price (MSP), free electricity and procurement centres. The cultivation process will be decided by the corporate houses, which will be a deadly blow to the farmers. We demand the Union government to withdraw the pro-corporate farm laws.”

The party workers on November 30 tried to lay siege to the ICF office as well in Ayanavaram while they plan to lay siege to BSNL office on December 2.  The North Chennai district committee held a road roko protest for the second consecutive day, leading to the detention of hundreds of party workers. 

The Left party’s workers and members of youth and women organisations have joined the solidarity protests taking place across the length and breadth of the state, with reports of protests being held in all districts of the state.

D Raveendran, vice president of the AIKS, said, "The way the farmers are treated by the BJP government is highly condemnable. The farmers were preparing for a peaceful protest against the farm laws. The government, which pushed through the bills, is now trying to suppress and undermine the struggle of the farmers.”

The AIKS has alleged that the AIADMK government has joined the BJP-led Union government in betraying the farmers. The AIADMK not only extended support to the farm laws, but has also failed in giving around Rs 8,500 crore to the farmers of the state under different welfare programs. 

“Apart from the Union government snatching away the hard earned rights of the farmers, they are also trying to handover the agriculture sector to the corporate companies. Such a move is dangerous and could be a deadly blow to the farmers of the country. The only solution is the withdrawal of the three farm laws,” said Raveendran.

The CITU members, who took part in large numbers in the general strike on November 26, jumped in support of the beleaguered farmers after their march was blocked. The state committee of the CITU has called for a statewide protest condemning the attack on the farmers. The workers of the Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) of India and other employees unions including from the banking sector have extended their support to the farmers.

Also read: Tamil Nadu Farmers’ Groups, Opposition Parties Join Hands for Massive Protests against Farm Bills