Farmers Movement Archive

Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan, opposition hail withdrawal of farm laws

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan, opposition leader VD Satheesan and other leaders lauded the farmers for maintaining the tempo of the protests until the Centre decided to withdraw the controversial farm laws. “The year-long farmers’ protest has finally triumphed. Indian farmers have scripted one of the brightest chapters in the history of class struggles. Salutes to the martyrs, farmers and organisations who fought with unmatched resoluteness and undying spirit,” Pinarayi Vijayan tweeted. In a further statement, the chief minister said that it was when the farmers realised that their very existence is in danger that they rose in protest. In the protest that lasted for almost a year, 700 farmers became martyrs. Their martyrdom did not go in vain, the chief minister said. The farmers protest is a tight slap on the face of Sangh Parivar agenda of dividing the people to enforce corporate interests, he said. The Centre had to kneel before one of the biggest protests witnessed by the 21st century, said Satheesan. More than the late realisation at the doorsteps of elections to two major states, it cannot be believed that the Prime Minister or the Sangh Parivar forces have any sincerity towards the farmers of the country. The farmers have won over an undemocratic government that would do anything with their brutal majority. This is the victory of democracy, he said. Former chief minister Oommen Chandy said that the Centre withdrew the laws for fear that it cannot withstand the wrath of farmers. This achievement was scripted with the blood and sweat of lakhs of farmers. Maintaining the Gandhian method of protest even after falling prey before bullets is something which is unparalleled, he said. Congratulating the farmers, he said that the Centre and the state will have to reduce the fuel prices also before such protests by the people. The farmers gave a befitting reply to the Centre’s move to impose the corporate agenda, while also trying to divide the farmers, said CPI leader and All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) national secretary Satyan Mokeri. He said that it was after the failed efforts to divide the farmers, who stood united, that the Prime Minister finally apologised to the farmers and announced withdrawing the laws, he said. He said that the Prime Minister has not yet said anything about minimum support price and clarity is needed in such matters. KPCC president K Sudhakaran said that the decision of the Centre to give up before the farmers is an indicator of hope for the country’s democracy. He said that the downfall of Narendra Modi has begun from the farmers’ protest land and it will soon spread across the country. The farmers’ protest reminds of the historical fight put up by the country’s public against British rule, he said.

The Times of India

2021-11-20

Thiruvananthapuram