People's Democracy

MEETING after the massive rally of November 30, 2000, and assessing the response of the central government to the crisis of agriculture in the country, we place the following demands forcefully before the people of the country to fight for:

* The banning of the import of all agricultural and dairy products from abroad. The opening up of our agrarian market by the central government, even before the year 2004 (as required by the WTO) under US pressure, is a gross violation of our sovereignty and independence and must be reversed at once. This has led to a sharp decline in foodgrain production, days of work available for agricultural labour, and a collapse of the rural economy. As the vast majority of the Indian people depend on agriculture, its ruin by the BJP-led government means ruination of India. And it cannot be permitted.

* The immediate disbursal of surplus stocks held under the PDS to flood- and drought-hit districts in different states of the country for the Food for Work Programme.

* We further demand that the administered prices of grain and sugar be brought down to previous levels as people cannot buy them at present-day prices as the income of the rural poor has gone down sharply. We also condemn the suggestion of selling this surplus on the export market or destroying it.

* We demand that the government reverse the present trend of privatising electricity production for the rural areas. The peasants as small-scale producers cannot afford prices in excess of their incomes.

We demand that the government subsidise electricity irrigation and fertiliser for the Indian farmer and not allow the corporates to take over control of our best lands in the Latin American fashion.

* We demand the immediate tabling of a comprehensive central legislation for agricultural labour in parliament, an embargo on combine harvesters and other devices that bring down the need for labour in agriculture and create rural unemployment.

* We demand the cancellation of all debts of farmers, agricultural labourers and craftsmen up to Rs 10,000.

* We demand the immediate implementation of radical land reforms. This will give land to over one crore landless in UP alone.

* We demand that the sugar mill owners be forced to pay the peasants and mill workers their dues at once.

We know that a government like the NDA government at the centre, and the BJP-led government of UP, will not take these steps as they are working for the grain wholesalers, landlords and corporates, both Indian and foreign.

So we have decided to take to the path of struggle until victory. The first step of our struggle was the mass rally in New Delhi. The second step is a militant three day Ghera Dalo, Dera Dalo of all central government offices at the district and tehsil levels on February 5,6 and 7, 2001.

The Indian peasants and agricultural labour will not starve. They are organised and will fight the anti-national policies of the BJP government with all their might.

Moreover, as the prime minister’s failed unfortunate attempt to communalise Indian politics over the Babri Masjid issue once more has shown, the Indian masses are no longer prepared to be led up the garden path by a government bent on dividing the people on communal lines, and will fight for their sovereignty and economic demands. And they are prepared to fight a long struggle to win.