Kisans Rally To Celebrate Long March Success in Maharashtra….And Demand Justice for Pehlu Khan in Delhi

NEW DELHI: The farmers, after their historic #KisanLongMarch from Nashik to Mumbai that brought the Maharashtra government to its knees, took out a massive Victory March today to celebrate their success. Within 24 hours another group of farmers remembered fellow kisan Pehlu Khan on his first death anniversary who was attacked and lynched by a mob in Alwar Rajasthan.

Pehlu Khan was a dairy farmer from Nooh district of Haryana and as the farmers under the aegis of Bhumi Adhikar Andolan started. “ It is shameful to see that the Rajasthan govt. has still not made the case a priority - to deliver justice to the victims or address the increasing cases of cow vigilantism. There is a growing threat to the power of democratically elected state-government and courts from quasi militant groups such as the gau-rakshaks, who have undermined the Right to Life of individuals and communities, especially in the rural agrarian belt.

Various militant and political outfits such as RSS and VHP have regularly attacked cattle traders under the guise of “gauraksha” (cow protection). Pehlu Khan’s family is still struggling to come to terms with their loss and live a normal life. The delay in this case clearly shows not a lack of evidence, but a lack of will to bring the killers to justice. The role of the local police officials in the subduing and diluting of the cases, including threatening families and friends of the victims of filing false cases, destroying evidence and adopting a strategy of false encounters must also be looked into.”

The protest was addressed by General Secretary AIKS Hannan Mollah and others.

This protest on Parliament Street in Delhi came just after a massive rally celebrated the success of #KisaLongMarch in extracting a written statement from the Maharashtra Chief Minister conceding all demands. The farmers gathered at Kalwan district Nashik yesterday, ending the march with a huge public meeting. The All India Kisan Sabha leaders Ashok Dawale and others addressed the meeting underlining the success of farmers strength and unity in making Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis rush to concede their demands. This after, a litany of broken promises and false assurances in the expectation that the farmers would give up. Instead, they came out in huge strength in an orderly 200 Km march that earned them respect and appreciation from all sections, across the country. It sent Fadnavis scrambling to sign a statement conceding the demands of loan waivers and forest rights, more so as it was clear that the farmers would not leave the streets of Mumbai until this was done.

Dhawale, the man behind the organisation, told The Citizen that the victory march was to strengthen of the farmers, and to follow up on the implementation of the demands by the state government.

The farmers stir has acquired a new momentum after Dhawale a central committee member of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) was elected as the Presidnet of the All India Kisan Sabha. Known to be inspired by freedom fighters and writer Goadavari Parulekar, Dhawale has been working for the Kisan Sabha and the agrarian community now since 1993. After taking over he quietly drew a charter of action, energising the Kisan Sabha that is now virtually leading the agrarian movement in Maharashtra, Rajasthan and other states.