#IndiaUnites Joint Agitation Launched Against Modi Government

New Delhi: Starting January 30, a joint agitation will begin amplifying some of today’s most critical issues affecting Indians everywhere, seeking a response from political parties, particularly the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The joint agitation, led by farmers, veterans and youth, also comprises several other sections of society committed to ensuring that the political parties of India have to respond to citizens. Joining hands for this agitation are ex-servicemen members of dalit, adivasi and bahujan samaj, farmers’ organisations people affected by chit fund scams civil society members, citizens against Aadhaar and surveillance, journalists, women's rights organisations and youth & teachers’ organisations.

Speaking to Newsclick, Hannan Mollah, General Secretary of the All India Kisan Sabha, said, “This platform is one of its kind as we are bringing together multiple groups under one umbrella platform. The agitation will kick-start on January 30,” adding that the past four years have worsened the socio-economic condition of Indians everywhere through a destructive mix of poor economic policies and implementation.”

Major Priyadarshi Chowdhury, an Army veteran, added, “It is important that we realise that this does not end at the general election, but that it is a continuous effort, which will remain so even after a new government is formed.”

A major focal point of the dharna is also to bring to the fore the concerns of the students,  discussing educational opportunities, student leaders asserted. “The opportunities have never been adequate for our population, and now appear to be reversing progress in terms of availability as well as quality, while unrelated organisations appear to profit from inexplicable favor to capitalise on the resultant need for capacity, by privatising the education system and attacks on public funded universities”, they said.

Much was promised on the front of jobs, but the reality is that jobs are disappearing, with small businesses in particular under severe threat, many of them having been driven to extinction through unsustainable policies. The youth leaders also stated that the Armed Forces were being consistently downgraded, thereby compromising India’s national security.

The nine-day dharna is part of a grassroots movement announced In July 2018, comprising an alliance of diverse segments of society, which focuses solely on the key issues that matter to the constituents.
 

Outline of the Joint Agitation

January 30, 2019: Dharna commences; issues in focus will be introduced. Ex-servicemen organisations will take the lead by highlighting issues that affect the serving armed forces, ex-servicemen, war widows and disabled soldiers.

January 31, 2019: Dalit, Adivasi & Bahujan Samaj organisations will express their grievances. Their issues are complex and timeless; specific urgent actions are necessary to address the worst of their distress.

February 1, 2019: Farmers & Trade Unions will focus on agrarian & rural distress. The reckless policy making of recent years has driven their already fragile economy into outright unsustainability.

February 2, 2019: Unions of Chit Fund scam affected people present their story. A largely ignored group of people.

February 3, 2019: Civil society members will protest the rise in hate crimes as well as the attacks on free speech and democracy.

February 4, 2019: Environment; Aadhaar and Surveillance; Ethics in Journalism.

February 5, 2019: Women's Reservation Bill and atrocities against women.

February 6, 2019: Student groups teachers’ association will speak about youth issues, education, and employment.

February 7, 2019: All constituents will be mobilising.