Mumbai: CPI (M) leader Dr. Ashok Dhawale will lead the All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS), one of the biggest farmers’ body in the country. The AIKS has been in the forefront in the recent farmer agitations across the country, including in the State.
Dr. Dhawale, presently a central committee member of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), was unanimously elected as President, AIKS at its national conference in Hissar, Haryana. He becomes the third Communist leader from Maharashtra to lead AIKS after late Krantisinh Nana Patil and late Godavari Parulekar. Dr Ajit Nawale, a farmer leader who gained popularity during the farmer agitations, was elected to the Central Kisan Committee.
“Farm loan waiver and implementation of the recommendations in the Swaminathan Commission report will be our main focus,” Dr. Dhawale told The Hindu . He said AIKS believes the Centre cannot wash of its hands by placing the responsibility on the States, while extending loan waivers to corporates. “Implementation of the Swaminathan Commission report was [Prime Minister Narendra] Modi’s promise; AIKS will press for the same,” he said.
On November 20, the All India Kisan Sangharsh Samanvay Committee will be taking out a rally in New Delhi. “AIKS will hold the nationwide campaign between November 1 and November 15,” he said.
Inspired by freedom fighter, writer and social activist Godavari Parulekar, Dr. Dhawale began working for the Kisan Sabha in Thane and Palghar districts from 1993. He was joint secretary from 1995 to 2001 and general secretary of the Maharashtra State Kisan Sabha from 2001 to 2009. Recently, the Maharashtra State Kisan Sabha’s collective leadership has taken up powerful independent struggles on farm loan waivers, remunerative prices, the Swaminathan Commission findings, Forest Rights Act, drought, irrigation, power, unjust land acquisition, MahaMumbai SEZ, bullet train and other issues.
