On the call of the Bharti Kisan Union (EKTA-UGRAHAN)on March 15th thousands of farmers, farm labour, hundreds of women, youth, and students thronged into Amritsar .They protested and held Demonstration, against the G-20 conference being held, demanding that Agriculture, Industry, Education, health, electricity and water etc fields of the country and of Punjab, remain free of the tyranny of the Imperialists and scrapping of the anti people agreements signed with the Imperialist Organisations like the World Trade Organisation.
The main thrust of the rally was keeping industry and Agriculture independent from Imperialist Organisations. Spirit of resistance shimmered at a helm with the venue flooded. A most significant event in exposing the nefarious designs of bodies like G-20, which are blessed by imperialism and globalisation. Positive development to witness the class consciousness of the farmers and striking capacity. Also noticeable that agricultural labour too made a significant contribution.
While addressing the gathering at the occasion of Protest Demonstration, State President Jogindar singh ugrahan and General secretary Sukhdev singh Kokri Kalan classified this platform of G-20 as one for or mortgaging the country in the hands of Imperialists and further said that this conference is being held to carve a strategy for plundering Punjab. They said that during this meeting schemes are to be designed for further intensifying of exploitation by the Imperialist countries by mercilessly subordinating open education sector fully to the Imperialists and for amendments in labour laws so as to further strangulate of the toiling masses by ruthless k exploitation. They termed the claims of the Government of development of Punjab with the foreign investment, as false and misleading. They affirmed that Bhagwant Mann was repeating the history of colonial era by betraying martyrs Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru and giving sanction to imperialism, by literally inviting t to the doorstep.
They said that this investment paves path for plunder of the rich natural resources and exploitation of labour in order suit the needs of the Imperialists and will be an instrument of destruction rather than that of development. They further said that the dwindling industry of Punjab and crisis ridden agriculture is already in turmoil under the sin of the new economic and industrial policies implemented under the agreements signed through such platforms. The black agriculture laws introduced by central government had appeared at the directions of Imperialist Organisations like world trade organisation through such mechanisms only.
The likes of getting rid of the government markets, privatisation of state electricity Boards, import of foreign wheat, opening of private universities and ruining the government education system, introducing new education policy, paving the way for the Imperialist control over water are part of strategy of imperialist control. They said that on one hand Punjab government is claiming to establish policy to retrieve agriculture from the crisis and on the other hand for enforcement of the dictates of these Imperialist countries that have pushed agriculture into crisis, these exploiters are given an overwhelming welcome in the state. Opposed to it farmer’s leaders demanded that Punjab Government should design a new agriculture policy in accordance with the draft given by the union.
During his address the state secretary, Shingara singh maan, claimed that through this group of 20 comprising of the big Imperialist countries, having the leading role in the exploitative formulations of world trade organisation, international monetary fund and World Bank are imposed on the backward countries in name of development. Agreements are signed for strengthening and further strengthening the power of Imperialist companies and countries in agriculture, industry and trade of countries like India. The designs to plunder the natural resources and labour power of the country by the Imperialists are framed and implemented through these platforms. This is the platform to mortgage the country in the hands of the Imperialists.
Woman leader Harrinder Kaur Bindu while summarising the role of valiant women like Gulab kaur and Rani Jhansi In the struggle against chains of the British Imperialism, highlighted their anti Imperialist fighting spirit championing the role of woman in worker-peasant struggle. She declared that in addition to the mighty participation of women on the occasion of the protest demonstration against the Imperialist meeting, in course of the future also in the struggles waged against new Imperialist policies and decisions, Punjabi woman will leave no stone unturned.
Punjab khet majdoor union General Secretary, Lachhman Singh Sewewala, Hushiar singh Salemgarh, leader of PSU Shaheed Randhawa and Ashwni Ghudha, leader of Naujvan Bharat Sabha pledged support and also addressed the protesters. They conveyed that issues like unemployment, Starvation, Debt suicides and pollution being faced by labour, farmers, youth and the common man of the country including Punjab have their roots planted in f the pro Imperialist policies dictating the country, and for further strangulating of the same G-20 conference is being held. They demanded that India should come out of the all the Imperialist dominated organisations including world trade organisation, scrap all agreements signed with the Imperialists, eradicate Imperialist companies and India corporate from the education system, health, agriculture and Industry. At the occasion, state leader Hardip Singh Tallewal, Rup singh chhanna, Jagtar singh kalajhar and 19 District leaders were also present.
Harsh Thakor is freelance journalist who has covered mass movements around India and frequently toured Punjab
