India
Farmers Continue Mass Meetings and Organizing
Mahapanchayat in
Delhi, March 19, 2023
Farmers from across India gathered in their thousands in Delhi on March 19 in a Mahapanchayat (mass meeting) to tell the ruling elite and their state that their struggles will continue for their demands, including a Minimum Support Price (MSP) -- a form of market intervention by the Government of India to protect agricultural producers against any sharp fall in farm prices.
Green, yellow, blue, red and many other coloured banners could be seen for miles as the farmers arrived in Delhi on their tractors. Shouts of Kisan Mazdoor Ekta (Farmer-Labourer Unity), Nasal Aur Fasal (For the next generation and our crops) could be heard across the streets and lanes near parliament. One of the speakers said that from Delhi they will go back to each village of India to organize and prepare for coming battles. "Hum yahan apni rozi-roti ke liye aaye hain. Apne bachhon ke liye, apne ghar, apni zameen ke liye (We are here for our livelihood, our children, our home, and our lands)," said Anita Devi at the protest in Delhi's Ramlila Ground.
Delhi, March 19, 2023
A leader of the coalition of farmers' union Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) said, "There are several unresolved issues and these demand another 'andolan.' We will convene another meeting on April 30 in Delhi. I ask all farmers unions to hold rallies in their respective states and hold panchayats in the run-up to the meeting."
The ruling elite is imposing anarchy and violence in Punjab again to defeat the farmers' movement. A gangster in a prison has given a long interview about several murders. All officials implicated are denying any responsibility. A dramatic hunt is underway for a young man from Punjab. Rumors of his arrest or absconding are being flashed all over the media. Disinformation, deception and fraud are being imposed by the central government and media. His lawyer has filed a habeas corpus appeal in court. More than 100 youth have been arrested. Many people are being reminded of the '80s and '90s, when the army occupied Punjab and carried out genocide. But the farmers and people of Punjab will not be crushed and will carry on their struggles for renewal and renovation.
A Tribal Convention was held at Hamirparaa, Bhekadiya
recently.
About 800,000 Adivasi delegates from the four neighbouring states
attended namely, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Gujarat.
Several important issues were discussed such as the culture of Adivasis
(Indigenous Peoples); the
need to develop societies where livelihoods, biodiversity and nature
are protected; the realization of the potential of the natural
resources to protect and sustain dignified livelihoods; local/village
governance (Gram Sabha) empowerment; tribal medicine and conservation
of medicinal plants;
awareness about the nutritional and health value of local foods; the
development of university education facilities for Adivasis; the
protection of forests from the spread of forest fires and the
destruction of the forests. The widespread destruction of major
forests has become a big problem because of the power of rich
farmers, ranchers, loggers and plantation corporations. In 2009,
India
ranked 10th worldwide in the amount of forest loss with
devastated environmental degradation. Annual deforestation is
estimated at 13.7 million hectares (3,604 acres).
People all across the Himalayas are also coming together to
save
the
Himalayas. People of Joshimath in Uttarakhand have been carrying
out
protests and Yatras (pilgrimages) against the
mindless
deforestation, urbanization, hydroelectric plants, railway
tunnels and
highways in slopes and along
the rivers all of which are causing massive erosion, sinking of land,
cave-ins, mudslides, devastation and destruction.
In Cambridge, Massachusetts, a vibrant symposium was held on
agriculture, nature dependent communities, climate change and
inequalities, to mark the 92nd anniversary of martyrdom of
Rajguru,
Sukhdev and Bhagat Singh. It was an all-day affair and
participants
engaged with concrete solutions to
pressing problems facing people in India and the world. One of
the
constant themes that kept coming through the presentations and
discussion was that people need to build sustainable and
scalable
mechanisms through which they can make decisions that affect
their
lives and nature. Many initiatives
that people have been taking in India were critically discussed.
The
entire day was spent discussing solutions, ending with dinner
and
cultural performances in the evening.
(Photos: tractr2twitr, Jubildas, K. Sandhu)
This article was published in
Number 19 - April 7, 2023
Article Link:
https://cpcml.ca/WF2023/Articles/WO10194.HTM
Website: www.cpcml.ca Email: editor@cpcml.ca