Adivasis Will Be Worst Victims of New Farm Laws: Adivasi Adhikar Rashtriya Manch

The Adivasi Adhikar Rashtriya Manch has extended its wholehearted support to the ongoing farmers’ movement against the pro-corporate and anti-farmer farm legislations in a press note released on December 11. It has also appealed to “all of its state, district and taluka units to organise independently and build joint movements against the laws with the peasantry organisations in their respective states”.

The press note stated that the new farm laws, passed by the Modi government unilaterally, will push the peasantry towards slavery under the corporate and monopoly capitals. In such a situation, the adivasis, a large section of which constitute the landless peasantry, will be the worst sufferers.

Therefore, they demand the repeal of the retrograde farm laws as well as the Electricity Amendment Bill 2020, against which thousands of farmers, particularly from Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh have been protesting at the borders of the national capital over the last 14 days. Not only that, the farmers’ movement has shaken the entire nation, with farmers organisations across the country extending their support.

Adivasi peasants too have been joining protests in solidarity with the nationwide farmers movement in various parts of the country. On December 10, thousands of tribals from the Jagrit Adivasi Dalit Sangathan gathered in the tribal-dominated Barwani district at the border of Gujarat and Maharastra in support of the country-wide movement against the Centre’s Farm Laws and the proposed Electricity (Amendment) Bill, 2020.

According to them, through the new laws, instead of guaranteeing remunerative prices for their produce, the central government has worsened the crisis of debt-ridden small and marginal farmers.

The AARM has also appealed to the central government to refrain from repressive actions against the peasants agitating in the national capital, who have faced brutal lathi charge, tear gas and water cannons since their march began on November 25.

The complete press statement is given below.

Adivasi Adhikar Rashtriya Manch

National Coordination Committee

36 Pt. Ravishankar Prasad Lane

New Delhi-110 001

 The 11th December, 2020

PRESS STATEMENT

Adivasi Adhikar Rashtriya Manch (AARM) has been strongly opposing the three most retrograde Farm-Laws, since the day one of its initiation as ordinance on 5th June, 2020 and subsequently which were passed in the Parliament through very undemocratic manner. The Laws shall ruin the agrarian sector and economy of the country, and shall push the peasantry towards slavery under the corporate & monopoly capitals. Adivasis of the country would be the worst victim of the situation.

AARM is wholeheartedly extending its support and solidarity with the peasantry in their struggle for the repeal of the retrograde Agri-Laws and the Electricity Amendment Bill-2020. 

AARM make appeal to the Central Government to refrain from the repressive measures against the peasants, who are peacefully agitating for their due rights AND concede to their demands for repeal of the three Farm Laws, withdrawal of the Electricity Amendment Bill-2020 and declaration of MSP against all major crops.

AARM call upon its all State, District and Taluka Units to organize independently and build joint movements against the Laws with the peasantry organizations in their respective States.

Sd/-Dr. M. Babu Rao  Sd/- Jitendra Chaudhury

        Chairman   Convener