PRESS STATEMENT Khedut Samaj – Gujarat condemns Governments open war against farmers and agriculture
Khedut Samaj –
Gujarat
Khet Bhavan, Opp.
Cargo Motors, Near Gandhi Ashram, Ahmedabad
Phone: 9409307693
7 June,
2017
PRESS STATEMENT
‘Conspiracy against
Agriculture’ no more; it is open war against farmers and agriculture;
Farmers across
Gujarat express shock and grief over police brutality on farmers in Madhya
Pradesh; Resolve to
strengthen farmers’ movement here and nationally;
Yesterday’s news of
police firing on agitating farmers in Madhya Pradesh has shocked all of us. In
an act of defiance the police, acting on political orders, have unleashed
violence against farmers agitating about their perilous condition and neglect
by the government of their long-standing demands. Their action has resulted in
the death of 6 farmers, as per news reports of various national dailies.
Farmers and farmer organisations across Gujarat express their shock and horror
at this brutality of the Madhya Pradesh government and condemn this action in
the strongest terms. From condoning the criminal acts of ‘non-state’ actors
(vigilantes and mobs who lynch people) to state sanctioned violence was but a
small step, waiting to happen
.
The pro-capitalist
policies of the government are the main cause of farmers’ distress in the
country. While land, water, forests and coasts can be diverted for industrial
purposes without even the mandatory clearances and NPAs and loans and revenue
foregone running into thousands of crores of rupees can be ignored, the
farmers’ demands for water for irrigation, electricity, fair and remunerative
prices for their produce and loan waiver to tide over lean years are met with
bullets. Declining agriculture export and increasing import of agro-produce and
higher rates on agro value addition under GST regime are examples of the
Government’s intentions to compel farmers to abandon agriculture and hand over
natural resources like water and land to big pro government corporate houses.
There are rising instances of the state machinery increasingly resorting to
violence and use of fatal force against farmers, this being the latest
instance. This is no longer a conspiracy against farmers and agriculture; it is
open war against them by the state through its various arms.
Khedut Samaj-Gujarat
condemns the government and police of Madhya Pradesh in the strongest terms. They
will continue to stand by the agitating farmers of Madhya Pradesh and all and
any other states of India. The farmers of the 68
villages merged into AUDA, under the leadership of Khedut Samaj-Gujarat, were
to take out a vehicle – tractor, car, motorcycle – rally. In view of the
atrocity on their fellow farmers in Madhya Pradesh and in solidarity with them
and their struggle, this programme was altered to include a 2-minute silence to
pay homage to the martyrs in Madhya Pradesh. However, and not surprisingly,
permission has been denied, yet again, by the authorities.
We request all the
farmers’ organizations and other CBOs and NGOs to organize statewide programmes
across India to show solidarity with the farmers. Day after tomorrow, 9 June,
the farmers will hold a day-long demonstration and shraddhanjali sabha for
the martyrs of the movement in Madhya Pradesh at all the district collector
offices across Gujarat after handing over a memorandum demanding justice for
the farmers.
Khedut Samaj-Gujarat
appeals to all people concerned at the deteriorating state of democracy in the
country today and the increasing suppression of people’s voice to join these
programmes in large numbers. This is not a political programme or a programme of
any particular political party and so people joining are requested to do so
without their party’s banners.
Jayesh Patel
Sagar Rabari
President
Secretary