New Delhi: In the wake of the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam that claimed 26 lives, the All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) has issued a strong appeal for restraint, urging the Union Government to prioritise diplomatic efforts and legal mechanisms to counter terrorism, while cautioning against jingoism and communal polarisation.
AIKS President Ashok Dhawale and General Secretary Vijoo Krishnan, in a joint statement, condemned the terror strike and acknowledged the Indian armed forces’ retaliatory operations targeting terrorist bases across nine locations. However, the organisation expressed concern over the escalation in cross-border hostilities, which it said had disproportionately affected peasants and agricultural workers residing near the India-Pakistan border.
“Wars only benefit ruling classes and their imperialist allies. It is the working people who suffer the most,” the AIKS leaders stated. They called for the Indian government to adopt “forceful diplomatic measures” and to invoke the provisions of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to bring Pakistan under pressure to act against terrorist financiers and handlers.
The AIKS also criticised the atmosphere of war-mongering and communal rhetoric being promoted through certain media platforms. They warned that such divisive tactics risked distracting from the pressing issues faced by the public, such as unemployment, inflation, and agrarian distress.
In a sharp rebuke to corporate profiteering, the AIKS condemned Reliance Industries for its attempt to trademark “Operation Sindoor”—a move that was later withdrawn following public outrage. “This reflects an effort to milk a national crisis for corporate gains, even as the masses suffer,” the statement said.
Further, AIKS denounced the alleged clampdown on independent media outlets like The Wire, contrasting it with the impunity enjoyed by channels that, according to the organisation, propagate communal and provocative content.
The farmers’ body also criticised ongoing economic policies of the central government, including the implementation of the four labour codes, proposed changes in agricultural marketing laws, privatisation of electricity, and free trade agreements with Western powers. These, AIKS claimed, would intensify inequality and deepen the crisis for workers and farmers, particularly in times of war.
Reiterating their commitment to peace, Ashok Dhawale and Vijoo Krishnan urged the government to resolve the situation through dialogue and to uphold the interests of India’s working population.
