People's Democracy

THOUSANDS of farmers and agricultural workers took to the streets of Bangalore, the capital city of Karnataka, on May 29, registering their strong protest against the suicidal agricultural policies of both the central and state governments.

Karnataka Prantha Raitha Sangha (AIKS) and Karnataka Prantha Krishi Kooligara Sangha (AIAWU) have jointly organised this rally against the IMF, World Bank and WTO dictated policies which are ruining the nation as a whole and the toiling masses in particular.

'Protect Agriculture, Save Nation Jatha' organised by these organizations, which started from Basavakalyana in Bidar district culminated in this mammoth rally.

The rally held at Basaveshwara circle near Vidhana Soudha, the seat of power, warned both BJP led central and the congress government of Karnataka to stop the disastrous economic policies or face the wrath of the people.

All India Kisan Sabha central leader Varadarajan, who was the main speaker at the rally, dealt at length on the anti people policies of the BJP and Congress led governments. He exhorted upon workers and peasants of Karnataka to forge a united and powerful movement against these policies.

Among those who addressed the rally were CITU state president S Suryanarayana Rao, KPRS president Maruti Manpade, Agricultural Workers Union president G N Nagaraj, vice president, Nityanandaswamy, former CPI(M) MLA G V Shiram Reddy, KPRS general secretary G C Bayya Reddy, and AIKS (Ajoy Bhavan) leader Gopal. Freedom Fighter and Ex MLA Suram Ramayya was present on the dias.

The state animal husbandry minister Krishnappa who arrived on the dais to receive the memorandum had to face the angry protest of the rallyists.

After receiving the memorandum, the minister, who was expected to express solidarity with the peasants and agricultural workers who are facing the brunt of these policies, tried to shift the responsibility on central government as if the Congress has nothing to do for the present situation. To this, angry people protested and the minister exited saying that he will talk to the leaders.

The jatha under the slogan 'Krishi Rakshisi Desha Ulisi' (Protect Agriculture Save Nation) was inaugurated at Basavakalyana on May 22 by legendary Telangana Armed Struggle veteran and AIAWU CEC member K Krishnamurthy.

The Jatha inauguration venue has a significance in that it is the land of revolutionary social reforms of 12th century popularly known as 'Kayaka Jeevigala Chaluvali', (struggle of working people) which preached the importance of dignity of labour.

The jatha carried Hutatma Jyothi (Martyrs Torch) in respect of martyrs of Shira taluk of Tumkur district who laid down their lives during groundnut growers agitation some time back. It was enthusiastically greeted by workers, youth, students and women as a mark of solidarity with 'annadata'.

The Jatha covered hundreds of kilometers and reached thousands of people and made an attempt to create awareness among the people about the ruinous policies being thrust on the people by the so called "deshabhaktas".