Lucknow — Under the directives of the All India Kisan Congress, a grand “Kisan Nyay Yoddha Conference” was organized in Lucknow to introduce newly appointed state office-bearers, Kisan Nyay Yoddhas, and Digital Kisan Nyay Yoddhas. The event aimed to bolster the farmer wing’s organizational strength and amplify the Congress party’s pro-farmer message across rural Uttar Pradesh.
The conference saw the presence of prominent Congress leaders, including Avinash Pandey, General Secretary of the All India Congress Committee and Uttar Pradesh in-charge, as the Chief Guest; Ajay Rai, President of the Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee and former Minister, as Special Guest; and Akhilesh Shukla, Vice President (All India Kisan Congress) and In-charge of UP Kisan Congress. The event was conducted by Jagdish Singh, former Chairman, UP Kisan Congress (Central Zone).
Before the formal proceedings, tributes were paid to the farmers who lost their lives during the protests against the three controversial farm laws brought by the BJP government, as well as to the farmers killed in the Lakhimpur Kheri incident. Participants also observed a moment of silence for Hariom Balmiki, a young Dalit farmer from Fatehpur, who reportedly died after being assaulted by BJP-affiliated goons.
Resolutions and Key Discussions
The conference emphasized strengthening the Kisan Congress network across the state and carrying Rahul Gandhi’s message of farmer justice to every village. Delegates discussed the pressing issues facing farmers and finalized a ten-point demand charter that included:
- Immediate enactment of the MSP Guarantee Law
- Clearing of pending farmer payments worth thousands of crores
- Increase in sugarcane prices
- Withdrawal of smart meters and reduction of high electricity tariffs
- Implementation of crop insurance through government companies and compensation to farmers
- Cleaning and proper water supply in canals for irrigation
- Farm loan waivers and strict action against moneylenders exploiting farmers
- Fair pricing for milk producers through cooperative societies
- Promotion of rural employment, food processing, and cold storage schemes to curb migration
- Proper compensation and rehabilitation for farmers affected by land acquisition under the 2013 Land Acquisition Act
- Reduction in the prices of fertilizers, diesel, seeds, and pesticides, and curbing of black marketing.
It was resolved that the Congress would fight to ensure these demands are met — both on the streets and in the legislature.
Digital Kisan Nyay Yoddha Initiative Launched
The event also marked the launch of the Digital Kisan Nyay Yoddha initiative, designed to connect farmers with Congress policies online and help communicate their grievances directly to the party.
Additionally, the “Vote Chor Gaddi Chhodo” signature campaign was launched to protest alleged collusion between the BJP and the Election Commission. Thousands of farmers signed the petition, pledging support for Rahul Gandhi’s call for electoral justice.
Speeches by Key Leaders
Addressing the gathering, Mr. Avinash Pandey said that the Congress’s struggle-oriented farmer movement is key to bringing change in the country. Recalling the pro-farmer policies of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, he highlighted initiatives like the construction of major irrigation dams such as Bhakra Nangal and Rihand during India’s first Five-Year Plan.
He also praised Lal Bahadur Shastri, Indira Gandhi, and Rajiv Gandhi for their farmer-centric policies, noting that under Dr. Manmohan Singh’s government, ₹72,000 crore of farmer loans were waived on Sonia Gandhi’s direction. He further credited Rahul Gandhi’s leadership during the Bhatta-Parsaul agitation, which led to the 2013 Land Acquisition Act, ensuring farmers received up to four times the compensation for acquired land.
Pandey urged the inclusion of women, Dalit, backward-class, and tenant farmers in the Congress’s farmer network and announced that a major Kisan Sammelan will be held in Muzaffarnagar on October 12 to mark the beginning of a new farmer movement in western Uttar Pradesh.
Speaking next, UP Congress President Ajay Rai condemned the BJP government for being “anti-farmer, anti-youth, anti-Dalit, and anti-women.” He alleged that the state government was involved in smuggling urea to Nepal, leading to shortages in UP. “When farmers demand urea, they are lathi-charged by the police. Congress will ensure that the sons of farmers get their rightful space in politics,” Rai asserted.
MP Tanuj Punia, Chairman of the UP Congress Scheduled Caste Department, praised farmers for playing a decisive role in preventing the BJP from achieving its “400-plus” target in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Akhilesh Shukla, Vice President of All India Kisan Congress and in-charge of UP, stated that the Kisan Nyay Yoddhas and Digital Yoddhas will take the Congress message to every village and strengthen the organization ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections, ensuring the return of a Congress government in the state.
Massive Participation
The event saw participation from several senior Kisan Congress leaders, including Omveer Tomar, Prabal Pratap Shahi, R.C. Pandey, Sheetal Maan, Mahendra Singh, Khalil Nambardar, Brij Maurya, Rambhawan Shukla, and Shiv Narayan Singh Parihar, among others.
Key organizers Deepak Tripathi, Saurabh Tyagi, Rahil Bhati, Praveen, Sarvesh Srivastava, and Farid Ahmed Khan played vital roles in ensuring the success of the conference, which saw the enthusiastic participation of thousands of farmer representatives, state office-bearers, and digital volunteers.
