The organisers of Kisan Long March came through with their promises when they organised a ‘Jail Bharo’ stir in Maharashtra on August 9.
All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) and CPI related Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) claim to have succeeded in their mission to fill jails and demand better actions and relief for farmers, removal of the ruling party from governance and more.
In a message, they said, “Over 21,000 court arrest in Thane-Palghar district, 18,000 in Nashik district, 5000 in Solapur district and more. The August 9 Jail Bharo struggle by the AIKS-CITU has been a massive success in over 25 districts all over Maharashtra, with the AIAWU, AIDWA, DYFI and SFI also pooling in their strength in this stir. Nearly 45,000 people have courted arrest in the three districts of Thane-Palghar, Nashik and Solapur alone.”
They agitated against what they called a pro-corporate, anti-people, communal and divisive BJP-RSS government led by Modi and asked the party to ‘Quit India,’ with the slogan ‘BJP Hatao, Desh Bachao.”
Calls were given everywhere to make the September 5 Mazdoor-Kisan Sangharsh Rally and the September 4 Women's Protest Rally in Delhi a massive success.
In Thane-Palghar district, braving heavy rains and setting aside their paddy cultivation, over 21,000 people blocked the roads and courted arrest in seven tehsil centres, viz Vikramgad (5500), Dahanu (3500), Wada (3000), Shahapur (3000), Talasari (2500), Jawhar (2500) and Palghar (1000). Peasant women took part everywhere in large numbers.
AIKS President Dr. Ashok Dhawale courted arrest at Dahanu, AIDWA General Secretary Mariam Dhawale at Vikramgad, AIKS State President Kisan Gujar and AIKS State Vice President Barkya Mangat at Talasari, AIKS State Vice President Ratan Budhar at Jawhar, CITU State Joint Secretary Vinod Nikole at Dahanu and DYFI State President Sunil Dhanwa at Wada.
Over 18,000 people took part in the Road Blockade and Jail Bharo stir in nine tehsils of Nashik district. The participation was as follows: Peth (8000), Dindori (2500), Tryambakeshwar (2000), Chandwad (1500), Malegaon (1100), Surgana (1000), Kalwan (1000) and Nashik city (850).
The actions were led in the rural areas by AIKS former State President J P Gavit, MLA, and AIKS State Office Bearers Sunil Malusare, Irfan Shaikh, Subhash Choudhary and Savliram Pawar, and in Nashik city by CITU State President Dr D L Karad and CITU State Vice President Sitaram Thombre.
At Solapur, it was the CITU that took the lead and over 5000 workers courted arrest at two centres. They were led by CITU former state president Narasayya Adam, CITU state General Secretary M H Shaikh, AIKS State Vice President Sidhappa Kalshetty, AIDWA State President Naseema Shaikh and others.
In March, over 40-50,000 farmers had laid siege in Mumbai after a long march of 180 kms from Nashik. The peaceful and effective protest was hailed by all sections of society for its maturity in the face of great deprivation and an anti-farmer government. It was called the biggest peaceful protest in the country in recent times.
