Kisans have every right to protest in Delhi for their demands!

Statement of the Central Committee of the Communist Ghadar Party of India, February 17, 2024

With deep anger, the Communist Ghadar Party of India condemns the Central Government for the vicious repression it has unleashed against the kisans of our country.

Kisans from Punjab and other states of India had begun a peaceful “Delhi chalo” (march to Delhi) on February 13. The aim of this march was to highlight their longstanding demands – a legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price for all crops, the implementation of the Swaminathan Commission’s recommendations on how to determine MSP, pension for kisans and agricultural workers, withdrawal of Electricity Amendment Bill, 2022, waiver of debts of kisans, justice for the victims of Lakhimpur Kheri, and the withdrawal of police cases against kisans. More than two years ago, kisans suspended their year-long agitation at the Delhi border after the Central government assured them that it would fulfil their demands. None of these assurances have been fulfilled.

The Central government is treating kisans as if they are enemies of the country. As tens of thousands of kisans began their rally in hundreds of tractor-trolleys from Punjab, they were stopped at the Punjab-Haryana borders, at Shambhu near Ambala and Khanauri in Jind. The Punjab-Haryana borders, the Haryana Delhi borders and the Delhi – UP borders have been completely sealed. The Central Government and the Haryana Government have ensured that no kisan is able to enter Delhi, let alone march to parliament.

The roads across the inter-state borders have been dug up. Multiple layers of barricades have been put up so that tractor trolleys cannot pass. Police have placed concrete slabs on the roads, and special nails to destroy the tyres of tractor trolleys. Even the river bed of the Ghagra river has been dug up for the same purpose!

Hundreds of companies of police and paramilitary forces have been deployed at the different borders. At the Shambhu border between Punjab and Haryana near Ambala, kisans have been lathi charged, and attacked with water cannons and tear gas shells. Hundreds of kisans have been hospitalised with serious injuries. Kisans have reported that the tear gas shells being used against them are of military grade, not normally used by police forces, and have some special chemicals which is causing grievous injuries. The government has even launched tear gas shells against kisans from the sky using special purpose drones. Kisans have reported that in order to discredit their andolan and justify the state repression, the government has been sending its agents in plain clothes amongst them to organise provocations such as throwing stones at the police.

The Haryana government has imposed Section 144 in 15 districts, banning any kind of protest or march in the state. The Central government has imposed Section 144 in Delhi for a whole month till March 13. The Chandigarh administration also imposed Section 144 in the city for a period of 60 days. Mobile internet services and bulk SMS services have been suspended in seven districts of Haryana — Ambala, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Jind, Hisar, Fatehabad, and Sirsa. The twitter and Facebook accounts of kisan organisations participating in the andolan have been deactivated following instructions from the central government.

There can be no justification for the repression unleashed by the government against the kisans of our country. Kisans have every right to come to Delhi to exercise their democratic right to voice their grievances before the Central government.

Spokespersons of the BJP are alleging that the kisans are being manipulated by opposition political parties, particularly the Congress Party. They are asking why kisans are raising the demand for a legal guarantee for MSP and their other demands at this time, on the eve of the General Elections. This is completely diversionary. Why should the kisans not raise their demands now? Kisans have been raising these demands year after year. It is the right of kisans to raise their concerns before the government. It is the duty of the government to listen to the voices of those who produce food to feed the whole country, and ensure justice for kisans. It is the government that is failing to do its duty to ensure security of livelihood for the kisans.

Farmers and workers organisations, political parties, as well as democratic minded people have come out in support of the fighting kisans. Kisans have declared that they will certainly proceed to Delhi, unless and until the government fulfil their demands.

The repression unleashed by the government against kisans has created a very dangerous situation. The Communist Ghadar Party of India calls upon the Central Government to end the repression unleashed against kisans and allow the kisans to march to Delhi.

The demand of kisans for a legally guaranteed MSP is entirely just. Successive governments have refused to implement this demand, because it goes against the interests of Indian and foreign monopoly capitalists to dominate agricultural trade. These monopoly capitalists dominate the Indian state. No matter which party is in charge of the government, the government works in the interests of the monopoly capitalists. This is the life experience of all kisans.

The struggle of Kisans for security of livelihood enjoys the full support of the working class. Together, workers and peasants must fight with the aim of replacing the rule of the bourgeoisie headed by monopoly capitalists, with our own rule. Then we will ensure that the economy will be oriented to ensuring prosperity and protection for all, instead of satisfying capitalist greed.