Jail Bharo by AIKS on Thursday

Around 20 lakh people across the country will protest against "anti-farmer", "pro-corporate" policies of the Narendra Modi government on August 9 on the occasion of 'Quit India Day' and, subsequently, court arrest, left-affiliated All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) said on Wednesday.

Addressing a press conference here, AIKS General Secretary Hannan Mollah said the anti-farmer, anti-people and anti-national policies of Modi-led government had proved to be a "disaster" for the country.

"The government has failed in all sectors. Farmers, workers, employees are unhappy. Even ex-servicemen are agitated as Modi government has failed to keep its promises. But corporates, corrupt, lynchers are happy," Mollah said.

"The protesters would be from various sections of the society with majority comprising farmers, labourers, dalits, and ex-servicemen, who will participate in 'Jail Bharo'."

He said the protest will be held in around 400 districts and on the Parliament Street in the national capital.

Crop loan waiver, remunerative crop prices through Minimum Support Price (MSP) based on the recommendation of Swaminathan commission, land reforms and halting forced land acquisition are among the major demands, he said.

Renowned agricultural economist M.S. Swaminathan has backed the protest, Mollah said.

In a letter to AIKS, Swaminathan reiterated the demand of MSP 1.5 times the input cost, a favourable procurement policy along with effective implementation of the Food Security Act, school noon meal programme, Mollah said.

"I support the demands of the farmers and request the government to listen to them," Swaminathan has said in the letter.

Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) is among the major organisations that have extended their support to the move.

CITU General Secretary Tapan Sen said Modi should quit as Prime Minister if he could not take care of poor farmers, labourers and workers.

Mollah also asked the BJP and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) to clear their stand on Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) as entry of multinational retail stores would have negative impact on farmers and small traders.

He asked if the RSS had given up its Swadeshi slogans forever.

--IANS

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