Farmers Movement: Solidarity Pours in From Across Country

Tens of thousands of farmers, mostly from Punjab and Haryana are protesting at various borders of the national capital for the seventh consecutive day on December 2 against the three new farm laws. The peasantry across the country along with other mass organisations and political parties has been conducting protests and demonstrations in solidarity with their counterparts who are on streets in Delhi. Along with this, various international communities have also extended their solidarity to the protesting farmers.

The solidarity protests across India have witnessed support from people from all wakes of life. More and more protests are planned by various organisations across the country. On Wednesday, December 2, the Left parties across the country demonstrated in solidarity with the farmers. The protest in Delhi saw the participation of hundreds of people. 

In Tamil Nadu, protests were held in all district centres. In Madurai, police has detained Su Venkatesan, Lok Sabha Member, who was leading the protest. 

The Left Democratic Front (LDF) in Kerala has also called for a torch light march on the night of December 2 against the Centre’s pro-corporate policies and in solidarity with the protesting farmers.

On Thursday, December 3, various organisations have called for a Rasta Roko protest in solidarity with the peasant struggle. Various farmers, students and other organisations including the All India Kisan Sabha, All India Agricultural Workers Union (AIAWU), Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI), Students Federation of India (SFI), All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA), Dalit Shoshan Mukti Manch (DSMM) among others have given the call for this joint protest.

Also read: Ground Zero: Farmers’ Protest is about Corporate Takeover of Rural India, Not Just MSP

In Karnataka, the farmers’ associations are planning a massive protest in Bengaluru from December 7 when the winter session of the state legislature starts. The Kerala unit of DYFI will conduct a Night March on December 4 in all wards across the state.

Farmers also staged a protest demonstration in Bengaluru on Monday afternoon. Members of the Aikya Horata Samiti, which consists of farmers, dalit and workers’ organisations, staged a symbolic protest near Mahatma Gandhi statue at Maurya Circle in Bengaluru.

Karnataka Rajya Raita Sangha president Kodihalli Chandrashekar said, “Around 10,000 farmers from across the state are expected to take part on December 7,” he said. They are also planning to continue the protest in Bengaluru when the winter session will be held from December 7 to 15, he added.

Farmers’ organisations in Karnataka have been opposing the state government’s move to bring bills amending the Karnataka Land Reforms Act and APMC Act which were stuck in the Legislative Council in the previous session, in addition to the new farm laws.

Meanwhile, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Tuesday urged the central government to "listen" to the protesting farmers and resolve the issue in an amicable manner. In a tweet, Vijayan described the farmers as the "lifeblood" of the country.

"It is time to stand with our farmers. We urge the Government of India to listen to the protesting farmers and resolve the issue in an amicable manner. The whole of our country needs to come together on this; because farmers are the lifeblood of this country,” he said in the tweet on Tuesday.

Farmers from Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar along with other states have conducted protest in solidarity with the farmers’ protest in Delhi.

Also read: Bihar: Left Parties Protest in Support of Delhi’s Farmers, Burn Effigies of PM Modi