Farmers to go on strike on Jan 8, 9 to protest PM Modi’s non-commital stand on loan waiver 

The All India Kisan Sabha on Tuesday, December 18, called for 'Gramin Bharat Bandh' on January 8 and 9 to protest Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "non-committal" stand on farm loan waiver. In a two-day meeting the Central Kisan Council has taken a resolution to call a two-day Gramin Bharat bandh on January 8 and 9, said Ashok Dhawale, AIKS president.

"The bandh is in protest against Prime Minister Narendra Modi's non-committal stand on farmers' loan waiver issue and rural distress the country has been facing in the last four and half years of the BJP rule," he said.

Dhawale said the landlessness issue is another major problem in rural areas, and alleged that the adivasis and Dalits have borne the brunt of the Modi government's anti-farmer policy.

The AIKS is a CPI(M)-affiliated farmers' organisation.

The AIKS's Gramin Bharat bandh has been supported by the Bhumi Adhikar Sabha, an outfit demanding land for poor farmers for agricultural purposes.

"Not only farm loan waiver, the government also has to address the landlessness issue of poor farmers. BAS has supported our bandh call", said Hannan Mollah , general secretary of AIKS.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath has announced signing off the file on crop loan waiver of up to ₹2 lakh as on March 30 this year.

Dhawale demanded the cut-off date be extended to December so as to make farmers, who have taken loan this year, free from the cycle of debt completely.

Mollah said the AIKS was able to bring the farmers distress issue to the fore and all political parties have been realizing importance of the problem. On January 8 and 9 next year, several trade unions have also called for 'general strike' in the country to protest the Modi government's alleged pro-corporate policies, he said.

"In urban areas, trade unions will go for general strike and farmers across the country will observe Gramin Bharat bandh on January 8 and 9 next year", Mollah added.

with agency inputs.