PBKMS members in sit in demonstrations across West Bengal

PBKMS and SMS organize sit in demonstrations demanding repeal of the 3 Farm Acts and the Electricity (Amendment) Bill

Paschim Banga Khet Majoor Samity (PBKMS) and Sharamjivee Mahila Samity (SMS) organised sit in demonstrations across West Bengal in solidarity with the protesting farmers. They demanded immediate repeal of the three Farm Acts and the Electricity (Amendment) bill. Protest sites came up in the districts of South and North 24 Parganas, West Midnapore, Nadia, Bankura and Purulia. This has been preceded by processions in support of the 'Bharat Bandhs' on 26th November and 8th December, 2020. A small village, Kumarjole (Uttar Dinajpur) had also organized a sit in demonstration on 16th December, 2020.

Our contention is that the farm acts will undermine the nation's food security, while also affecting the farming community. Thus repealing of the laws remains a central demand, along with 5 other demands:

• Guaranteed minimum support price for all food items.
• Decentralized procurement of all food items from each Gram panchayat
• Supply of all such food items at subsidized prices through the ration shops and using them for improved school and Anganwadi meals.
• Stop entry of corporate, commercial and chemically toxic farming and return to traditional, ecologically friendly farming.
• Stop mechanization in farming and displacement of agricultural workers.

We have been successful in creating open platforms to organize demonstrations which are  now witnessing participation from like-minded political parties and civil society organizations. Kanti Ganguly (former CPM MLA and All India Krishak Sabha leader), Mohit Bhattacharya (state level All India Krishak Sabha leader) and Sushanta Naskar (Indian National Trinamul Trade Union Congress) all spoke from the same platform against the Farm Bills and in support of the farmers’ movement from our platform at Raidighi. Interestingly, Hariram Mahato, the BJP Panchayat member of Tumlashole joined the meeting at Barabazar and gave slogans for the repeal of the Farm Acts. Barit Baran Mahato, Congress Puncha block president spoke at Puncha and Kutub Khan, Tumalsole Anchal Sabhapati at Barabazar. Association for the Protection of Democratic Rights and All India Krishak Sabha co-organised the program at Krishnanagar and Raidighi respectively. Shramajivi Sammanvay Committee, our fraternal trade union, joined the programme at Murarisha.

Sit in demonstration near Puncha Police Station, Purulia

Mr Barit Baran Mahato, the block president of the Indian National Congress addressing our gathering in Puncha, Purulia 

Sit in demonstration in front of the District Collector's office, Nadia

Joint street corner address with APDR in Nadia

Poster making in progress in Anikola, West Midnapore

Protest site in Dantan, West Midnapore

Handbill distribution in Raidighi, South 24 Parganas

Senior leadership of PBKMS and SMS in a protest site in Raidighi, South 24 Parganas

SMS leadership addressing the gathering in Murarisha Chowmatha, North 24 Parganas

Shri Pritish Bose, Shramajivee Samanway Committee addressing the gathering in Murarisha Chowmatha, North 24 Parganas

Kanti Ganguly, former CPM MLA and All India Krishak Sabha leader addressing the meeting

Sushanta Naskar, trade union leader of the INTTUC in the meeting  

Mohit Bhattacharya, state level All India Krishak Sabha leader addressing the meeting

Today’s demonstration was marked by small and big programs. Our members sat in dharna on locally at the Panchayat offices in Belma (Purulia 2) and Lakhanpur (Hura blocks) of Purulia district. In Krishnagar town (Nadia) the demondtartion was before the District Magistrate’s office. Processions were taken out along with sit in demonstrations in Ainkola bazaar in Datan block of Paschim Midnapore and in Puncha town of Puncha block in Purulia. Young people used the demonstration to make hand written posters at Ainkola Haat , while youth members of the union explained the issues to the public in Badulara Haat near Bankura town . Folk songs made specially for the occasion were sung in Lakhanpur (Purulia), Raidighi (South 24 Parganas) and Murarisha Chowmatha (North 24 Parganas).

Responding to the farmers’ call, PBKMS and SMS members will join the Thala Bajao programme at 11 AM on 27th December, to protest during the Prime Minister’s Mann Ki Baat broadcast. Along with fraternal trade unions in the unorganized sector, we also plan to have a day-long sit in demonstration near Kolkata Corporation on 28^th December. A contingent also plans to go to Delhi in January.