Farmers and agricultural workers owing allegiance to leftist organisations have decided to support a strike call given by central trade unions on September 2. Expressing solidarity with the demands raised by the unions, including the RSS’ Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, the farm outfits said one year of the Narendra Modi Government has deepened the agrarian distress.
All India Kisan Sabha president and former Rajasthan MLA Amra Ram said on Friday that Leftist organisations would join the strike with a 16-point demand charter. He claimed that though there have been about 19 general strikes by the trade unions, it was for the first time that the farmer bodies are supporting it. He said the first demand of the farmers and agricultural labourers was to scrap the Land Acquisition Ordinance. Demanding the Centre withdraw it immediately, he said a joint struggle by the farmers’ movements had forced a climb-down by the BJP.
He said the outfits will also demand nationwide implementation of land reforms and adopting a National Land Use Policy.