People's Democracy

J&K 

Kisan Jatha Successful In J&K

Gulam Nabi Malik

THE All India Kisan jatha in Jammu and Kashmir was inaugurated by Noorul Huda, joint secretary of AIKS at Jammu. Gulam Nabi Malik, general secretary of Jammu and Kashmir Kisan Tehreek and the leaders of Punjab and Haryana units of AIKS addressed the gathering. The proceedings were presided over by O.N.Trisal, president, Jammu and Kashmir Kisan Tehreek. The jatha campaigned against the liberalisation, globalisation and privatisation policies of the UPA government, which has resulted in the hundreds of thousands of suicides of kisans all over the country. The J&K Kisan Tehreek launched a mass campaign on the issues of kisans in eight districts of the state. Street corner meetings and wall writings formed part of the campaign, which was highly praised by the masses. The jatha was led by Lhembar Singh Taggar, joint secretary AIKS, Rachpal Singh, president Punjab state kisan sabha, Phul Singh Sheokand, president, and Harpal Singh, general secretary Haryana state kisan sabha. Later on, the jatha was joined by leaders of Himachal Kisan Sabha.

There was a heavy flood in the state during the month of September which caused a huge damage to the thousands of acres of standing crop. Hundreds of houses were damaged. In Jammu, standing crops were washed away in many places. The government made much hue and cry about the relief to the effected people but delivered nothing. Keeping this situation in view, the J&K Kisan Tehreek linked these burning issues with the Delhi March programme and organised first demonstration at district head quarters of Anantnag and the second demonstration at district head quarters of Pulwama. In both these demonstrations, hundreds of kisans from far-flung areas of both the districts participated and both these programmes were well revived by the general masses. At both the places memorandum consisting of immediate issues facing the kisans of the state including the public investment in agriculture, irrigation, agricultural research and implementation of MS Swaminathan commissions’ recommendations were handed over to the concerned authorities.

Despite the hurdle created by the police and civil administration, hundreds of kisans gathered at Sheri Kashmir Park, Srinagar where a public meeting was held after a good campaign. Later on, a militant demonstration was taken out which highly impressed the people around. The police did not allow the demonstration to reach the division commissioners’ office and it was concluded half way. It is to be noted here that just two minutes after we concluded the demonstration with an angry protest, a firing incident took place at the same place and a BSF personal was killed while two CRPF personnel were injured. But we could succeed in concluding the programme well and a memorandum was submitted to the division commissioner of Kashmir. 

A convention was held at district head quarters of Badgon in which hundreds of kisans participated. It was a first programme of this nature in the district.

Finally a public meeting after a thorough campaign was held in Jammu. It campaigned for the Delhi March of kisans. In Jammu this was the first programme of its kind, therefore was taken well by the print and electronic media and a wide coverage was given. It is to be noted that more than 250 people from J&K participated in Delhi march of kisans.