Ballia Mahapanchayat: Thousands of Farmers Gather in Mahapanchayat in Eastern UP
Abdul Alim Jafri
11 Mar 2021, Sikanderpur (Ballia): Known for its rebellious character since the freedom struggle, the first ‘mahapanchayat’ held in Ballia district’s Chetan Kishor in Sikanderpur Tehsil on Wednesday, turned into a wave of anger against the Narendra Modi government for neglecting the historic land that freed itself from British Raj on August 19, 1942 — the land of Mangal Pandey, the hero of the 1857 Sepoy Mutiny and also of former Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar.
The lone sugar mill in Rasra region has been closed since 2013. As a result, sugarcane growers have to carry their produce to an adjacent area, Ghosi, in Mau district.
Farmers and youth of Uttar Pradesh’s Ballia district, who participated in the mahapanchayat, in huge numbers, are angry that their complaints and problems are being ignored despite the district having given a decisive mandate to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.
In a bid to give a boost to the over 100-day-long farmers’ agitation against the Centre’s new farm laws in rural areas, where many people are still unaware about the implications of the laws on their livelihood, the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), a body of at least 40 farmers union, is spreading out to create awareness among farmers in UP’s most backward regions.
The mahapanchayat in Ballia, one in the series that has been taking place in the past few weeks, was backed by Left parties to discuss the future of the ongoing farmers’ protests in Eastern Uttar Pradesh
The organisers made arrangements for 10,000 people at Chetan Kishor ground. But the presence of Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait — a prominent face of farmers’ protests and a crowd-puller – drew more people that could be accommodated at the venue.
The mahapanchayat saw the participation of marginal peasants, including women from various villages of Ballia and adjacent districts of Azamgarh, Deoria, Varanasi and even neighbouring state of Bihar. The participants included academicians, lawyers, student leaders, young artistes and senior citizens.
The Message — ‘Farmers Matter’
The protesting farmers are confident about their objectives — the government must withdraw the three disputed agricultural laws and make minimum support price (MSP) legally binding. They echoed in a similar voice ‘Farmers matter’.
Speakers at the mahapanchayat said it is the same land from where former prime minister and socialist leader Chandra Shekhar had orgainsed a movement against the then finance minister Manmohan Singh for inviting foreign investors into India. ‘Baghi’ (rebellious) Ballia will roar again against Modi and would bring it on its knees for ‘cheating’ farmers in the name of three farm laws, said some farmers.
The major concern among farmers is the lack of running cost, which is the primary source of investment for them. They said electricity rates, water supply and fertiliser costs have always been a burden for them, adding that they were not able to sell crops to the government due to lack of proper channels and procedures.
“The key concern of farmers in Purvanchal is not MSP, rather they have been concerned that the government first needs to cater to the basic needs of farmers before introducing any new laws. Transportation, water supply, fertiliser, seeds, chemical and electricity costs are some of the biggest concerns for these small farmers and they want the government to first help them resolve these issues,” said Ajit Rai, in-charge of the Bharatiya Kisan Sabha for the Purvanchal region.
“The costs of cultivation arising from the use of inputs—seeds, fertiliser, pesticides, irrigation, human labour, machinery and credit, are increasing. Due to this, most marginal peasants are leaving farming and migrating to metro cities as labourers,” said Rai, adding that besides the high rate of seeds, the cost of other items, such as fertilisers and insecticides, have also increased.
“Although the UP government opened seed counters at state-owned centres, very few farmers are availing this facility because most of them do not have adequate information about government’s schemes. Besides, middlemen and shopkeepers leave no stone unturned to harass farmers,” the BKS leader said.
Echoin similar sentiments, Lilawati Bharti, a landless farmer from Maniar village, accompanied by 70 other women of All India Progressive Women’s Association (AIPWA), said: “The laws will definitely have an impact on farmers and will adversely affect landless workers even more.” Bharti’s six-member family is completely dependent on farming.
Braving the scorching heat, Sarita Devi, another landless farmer, walked around 35 km to reach the spot to listen to Tikait, who is holding back to back mahapanchayats across the state. Sarita also runs ‘Swayam Sahayata Samuh’, a non-profit self-help group that helps women who are facing financial constraints due to coronavirus induced-lockdown.
“The self-help group owes debts due to the lockdown and women who took money from organisation are unable to pay. Now banks are sending notices to their homes. When Prime Minister Modi and his government can waive loans for capitalist friends, why not for poor women?” said a distraught Sarita, adding: “I would rather commit suicide than surrender. The battle begins now and will continue till the end of my last breath.”
2021 — A Year of Movement
On the call of SKM, farmers from Eastern Uttar Pradesh started reaching Sikanderpur early morning to join the stir, even as security forces posted at the protest site thinned out overnight. Hours later, after Tikait reached the stage, he was greeted applause and whistles as delivered his half-hour-long speech. T The atmosphere turned electric.
Tikait said 2021 would be the year of the movement. “A long fight will be fought and success will be achieved,” he said, stressing that the fight has to be organised with full force. He called upon farmers to repair their tractors and trolleys and be prepared for the “call to leave for Delhi which could be given any time.”
Asking farmer leaders not to divide the movement into regional lines, Tikait said: “This mahapanchayat in Purvanchal was the need of the hour, as the government keep claiming that this is a movement of Punjab, Haryana and Western Uttar Pradesh. Now farmers of Ballia and adjoining districts have joined the stir. It will give sleepless nights to the government,” the BKU national spokesperson said.
Sriram Chaudhary, one of the key organiser of the Sikanderpur mahapanchayat, said: “If farmers lose, it means not only farmers but labourers of this country will also lose the hope. This battle will be long and ‘Baghi’ Ballia stands with their Delhi counterparts shoulder to shoulder,” he said, demanding that MSP, as recommended by the Swaminathan Commission, should be implemented.
(Courtesy: Newclick.)
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In High Spirits, Preparations Begin in Bihar for First Kisan Mahapanchayat
Mohd. Imran Khan
11 Mar 2021, Patna: Amid growing support for the farmers protesting against the three contentious farm Laws and anger against the rising price of petrol, diesel and edible oil, Bihar is set to witness its first ‘Kisan Mahapanchayat’ on March 25.
The much-awaited Kisan Mahapanchayat will be held in Rohtas district and will be addressed by Rakesh Tikait, leader of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU). The gathering will be organised under the banner of Bhartiya Kisan Sangathan Samanvay Samiti and Sanyukt Kisan Morcha, which is a united front of over 40 Indian farmers unions.
This will be the first visit of Tikait to Bihar after the farmers’ protest started last year against the three central farm laws. Besides Tikait, other top farmer leaders including Balbir Singh Rajewal and Darshanpal Singh will attend the Kisan Mahapanchayat in the state.
According to Ramashamkar Sarkar, a farmer leader, preparations have begun to mobilise farmers for the Mahapanchayat as it will be a show of strength. Farmers, youth, students and others from neighbouring districts are expected to participate in the Mahapanchayat in large numbers. In Bihar, the fertile landscape of Rohtas and Kaimur is known as the paddy bowl despite being drought-prone.
Several farmer bodies like the Rashtriya Kisan Morcha, Kisan Mahasangh, Kisan Mazdoor Sangathan, Bhartiya Kisan Manch and Rashtriya Kisan Samagam have joined hands for the mahapanchayat.
After Rohtas, the Kisan Mahapanchayat will be held in other districts of the state. “Soon, we will identify the districts to hold Kisan Mahapanchayats to create awareness and support among the farmers,” Sarkar said.
Unlike other states, the Kisan Mahapanchayat in Bihar will focus on the demand of Minimum Support Price (MSP) for paddy and wheat along with maize and pulses, which is an old demand of the farmers in the state.
The Opposition Mahagathbandhan has organised several protests against the Farm Laws over the past month in view of the fact that nearly two-thirds of Bihar’s total population of 12 crores is dependent on agriculture for their livelihood. Most of them are small and marginal farmers as per government data. Moreover, nearly two-thirds of all agricultural activities in the state is dependent on rainfall.
Aside from the Opposition parties, former Union minister Upendra Kushwaha’s Rashtriya Lok Samta Party (RLSP) also protested against the farm laws. The party has conducted ‘Kisan Chaupals’ to create awareness about the laws and has threatened to launch a state-wide farmer protest similar to that of Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.
Agriculture is the backbone of Bihar’s economy, employing around 81% of the workforce and generating nearly 42% of the state’s gross domestic product, according to state government figures.
Opposition leaders said that farmers in Bihar have been rendered helpless after the government abolished the Agricultural Produce Market Committee Act over 14 years ago (in 2006).
All the 16 MLAs of Left parties including 12 from the Communist Party of India (Marxist Leninist), two each from the CPI (M) and CPI have repeatedly staged protests against the three farm laws outside and inside the state assembly during the ongoing budget session. The issue of protesting farmers was raised by opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Congress MLAs.
Last month, the Opposition members walked out of the Bihar Assembly over farmers’ issues. They staged the walkout after Speaker Vijay Sinha rejected the notice of an adjournment motion by the Opposition for a discussion on the farmers’ issues.
Bihar’s Leader of Opposition, Tejashwi Yadav rode a tractor from his residence to the Bihar Assembly during the budget session last month in the support of the protesting farmers. By doing this, Tejashwi sent out the message that the opposition Mahagathbandhan would continue to oppose the farm laws and it would stand with the protesting farmers.
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Farmer Unions Call for Bharat Bandh on March 26
PTI
10 Mar 2021: Farmer unions on Wednesday called for a Bharat bandh on March 26, when their protest at Delhi’s borders against the Centre’s three new farm laws completes four months.
Farmer leader Buta Singh Burjgill said farmers along with trade unions will protest the hike in fuel prices and privatisation of railways on March 15.
Memoranda will be submitted to district magistrates against the rising prices of diesel, petrol and LPG. Protests will be held at railway stations across the country against privatisation, he said.
“We will observe a complete Bharat bandh on March 26, when our protest against the three farm laws completes four months. The peaceful bandh will remain effective from morning till evening,” he told reporters at the Singhu border.
On March 19, the farmers will observe “Mandi Bachao-Kheti Bachao” day, he said.
The farmer unions have also decided to celebrate Shaheedi divas’ of Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev, the farmer leader said.
Youths from all parts of the country will join the farmers’ protests at Delhi borders on that day, Burjgill added.
Farmer leaders also said that copies of the new farm laws will be burnt during Holika Dahan’ on March 28.
They said Kisan Yatras will be taken out in Bihar from March 11 and conclude on March 18 on Kisan Kranti Divas.
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Farmers’ Message To Bengal: ‘Defeat Anti-People, Pro-Corporate BJP’
Himadri Ghosh
13/Mar/2021, Kolkata: In an unprecedented move, several farmers protesting at the Delhi border for over 100 days reached the poll-bound state of West Bengal on Thursday for a three-day visit to campaign against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
The farmer leaders, under the umbrella organisation Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), are scheduled to address five mahapanchayats in Bengal – two in Kolkata and one each in Nandigram, Singur and Asansol.
Nandigram and Singur are significantly important as both areas witnessed the fight against forcible land acquisition by the Left Front government and helped Mamata Banerjee come to power, ending the Left’s 34-year rule of the state.
Addressing the press at the Calcutta Press Club, farm leader Balbir Singh Rajewal, president of Bhartiya Kisan Union said, “The Centre is selling all government-owned companies, their main aim is corporatisation of this country. So, we have decided that we visit states where elections are taking place and tell brother farmers and common people that Modi government’s policy will destroy this country. And request them not to vote for the BJP. We are not here to support any political party. Our humble request is vote for any party of your choice, but not BJP. Please teach BJP a lesson.”
SKM leaders said that after the three-day programme, different groups of farmer leaders would keep visiting various districts of West Bengal till the assembly election end on April 29. The organisation has printed leaflets which have been distributed across 294 assembly segments of the state with a message: “Reject BJP, defeat BJP in the upcoming assembly election”.
Recalling the Independence movement, Randeep Singh, a farmer from Bhatinda in Punjab, told The Wire, “Punjab’s relation with Bengal is very old. Both Bengal and Punjab fought together during our Independence struggle. So, here we are to help you (Bengal) to fight against anti-people, anti-farmer BJP.”
All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) general secretary Hannan Mollah, who was also an eight-time CPI(M) MP from Uluberia of Howrah district, who was also present at the press club on Friday said, “Narendra Modi’s government is the most anti-farmer government in the Indian history. So, we are all fighting against it. Today, raising above the issues of caste, religion, culture,‘kisan’ has emerged as a new identity. This fight will pave way for new possibilities. We will fight this out until we win. Till then it will continue.”
Post the press meet, the farmers took out a rally to Ramlila Park in Moulali and sat for a demonstration. “A BJP defeat in Bengal will help debunk government supporters’ claim that the farmers’ movement is restricted to Punjab and Haryana,” said one of the farmers present at the Ramlila Park.
Notable social activist Medha Patkar said, “In today’s Rajniti (politics) there is neither raj nor niti. Every single farmer and labour of this country is now suffering. We can’t tolerate it. Bengal is the soil of many revolutions. History tells us that people of Bengal had fought many battles to save their land and water. We are here together to save the land of Bengal. This (central) government has sold everything. Now they targeted Bengal, they will destroy Bengal’s agriculture like they did in Bihar. They will destroy Bengal’s mandis. So, I would request the people of Bengal to vote against the party that sold out their zameer (conscience) and zameen (land).”
The farmer leaders’ visit to Nandigram in East Medinipur district will be keenly watched by the people of Bengal as it has become the epicentre of the fierce battle between the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the BJP. The incumbent chief minister has relinquished her old constituency Bhowanipore to contest from Nandigram against her former trusted lieutenant Suvendu Adhikari, who switched over to the BJP three months back.
(Courtesy: The Wire.)
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Tikait, Medha Patkar Share Stage in Nandigram, Ask People to Defeat BJP
Himadri Ghosh
14/Mar/2021, Nandigram: Farm leader Rakesh Tikait, along with noted social activist Medha Patkar and many others addressed a mahapanchayat at Nandigram on Saturday.
One overarching message given by the leaders under the umbrella organisation Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), which is spearheading the protest at Delhi’s borders against the Centre’s farm laws, is “Defeat BJP. Don’t vote for the BJP.”
Nandigram is important for two reasons. Firstly, the area witnessed the fight against forcible land acquisition by the Left Front government and helped Mamata Banerjee come to power, ending the Left government’s 34-year rule.
Second, Nandigram has become the epicentre of a fierce battle between the ruling TMC and the BJP. Banerjee has relinquished her old constituency, Bhowanipore, to contest from Nandigram against her former trusted lieutenant Suvendu Adhikari, who switched over to the BJP three months ago.
Patkar is a familiar face in Nandigram as she was a part of the anti-land acquisition movement in Nandigram in 2007-2008. The movement is considered one of the landmark events of land struggles in the country, which ultimately led to the scrapping of a British-era land acquisition law.
Leading a sharp attack on the BJP and the party’s candidate in Nandigram, Patkar said, “I fondly remember how villagers used to stay awake all night during the 2007 struggle. At that time, no one ever thought of Hindus and Muslims separately. Hindus and Muslims fought as brothers and sisters for their land. At the time, the slogan was ‘Amar Gram Nandigram’. It’s shameful that today, the BJP and their candidate is dividing the people of Nandigram on religious lines. Don’t listen to him.”
After Banerjee announced that she will be contesting from Nandigram, on January 19, BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari said that she chose Nandigram depending on “62,000 voters…while 2.13 lakh people will vote for Jai Sri Ram”.
While speaking at the BJP’s rally in the Brigade Parade ground, Adhikari attacked the West Bengal chief minister, whose campaign has the slogan ‘Bengal wants its own daughter’. Adhikari said, “No one accepts you as Bengal’s daughter here. You are the phuphu (the word for paternal aunt, used primarily by Muslims) of infiltrators and the khala (the word for maternal aunt used primarily by Muslims) of the Rohingya.”
Speaking to The Wire on the sidelines of the public meeting, Patkar said, “Farmers have sacrificed their lives to save their land. SKM leaders came here because Nandigram is the land of revolution. I hope people of this land will defeat communal forces, forces which are anti-farmer and anti-poor.”
Manjeet Singh Dhaner, another senior farmer leader, asked people not to vote for ‘purchased leaders’. Dhaner said, “Throughout the country, the BJP is growing by buying leaders from the opposition parties. Don’t vote for these turncoats.”
Addressing the Nandigram mahapanchayat, Yudhvir Singh, Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) general secretary, said “Whenever elections come, they suddenly (BJP) remember Hindus, Muslims. They are the most divisive force in this country. Don’t fall for their words. They only understand the language of voting, so use your voting right and defeat them. Only then they will understand the power of the janta (people).”
‘Reject BJP,’ says Tikait
Leader of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) Rakesh Tikait got a huge response as he entered the ground in Nandigram. Many farmers of Nandigram got to know about Tikait through social media, when his emotional speech after the farmers’ tractor rally went viral.
In a scathing attack on the BJP, Tikait said in Nandigram, “The BJP is planning to ruin the lives of farmers by supporting big corporates. They don’t care about you and me. They are going to bring many anti-people laws. They are bringing anti-people laws related to fisheries and milk production too. They are here to sell this country’s asset and hand it over to companies. If this government is run by any party, then we could have discussed and resolved the issue. This government is not run by a party, it is run by companies. So, to teach it a lesson, the BJP must be defeated. You will have to defeat them in Bengal.”
Calling upon the people of Nandigram to defeat the BJP, he said, “Don’t fall for the communal trap. They (BJP) will try to divide you in every possible manner. Be united. Do not let them win.”
The All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) general secretary Hannan Mollah, who was also an eight-time CPI(M) MP from Uluberia of Howrah district, was also present for the event.
Incidentally, the rally took place on the eve of the 14th anniversary of the infamous March 14 (2007) police firing in Nandigram that killed 14 protesters.
SKM leaders reached the poll-bound state of West Bengal on Thursday for a three-day visit to campaign against the BJP. After this programme, different groups of farmer leaders will visit various districts of West Bengal until the assembly election end on April 29, the last of the eight phases. The first phase begins on March 27.
The organisation has printed leaflets which have been distributed across the 294 assembly segments of the state with a message: “Reject BJP, defeat BJP in the upcoming assembly election”.
(Courtesy: The Wire.)
