The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) now in session in New Delhi has issued the following statement:
The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) extends its complete support to the Maharashtra farmers who have embarked on an unprecedented action of a strike since June 1. The farmers have refused to bring their produce like vegetables, fruits and milk to the cities in protest against the state government’s refusal to accede to genuine demands like loan waiver in the background of consecutive droughts; implementation of the BJP’s poll promise of increasing the minimum support price to one and a half times the cost of inputs; promised pension for kisans and agricultural workers and to implement the promises regarding uninterrupted electricity and water during the agricultural season.
For over a year the Maharashtra kisans had been agitating on these issues and the state government had repeatedly sought time to meet their demands. This unique action of a farmers strike was resorted to after the series of betrayal by the state government in accepting the demands. Yesterday, June 5, the state witnessed a state wide bandh jointly called by several kisan organisations.
The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) demands that the genuine demands of the farmers in Maharashtra, which were promised earlier by the state government be implemented immediately.