The AP State Conference of AIKMS was successfully held at Khammam town on 23rd-25th April 2005. Advancing the slogan of land to the tiller as the central slogan, demanding a comprehensive Act for agricultural labourers, demanding that India quit WTO which has severely intensified the crisis of agriculture in India, and other demands, the AP state conference began with a massive rally of over 50,000 peasants and agricultural labourers on 23rd April in Khammam town. This was the 7th State Conference of Andhra Pradesh (the state AIKMS earlier functioned as RCS).

Participants in the rally came from Srikakulam and Adilabad districts, agency areas of East and West Godavari, from Warangal, Nalgonda, Nizamabad, Kurnool, Guntur, Prakasam, from Hyderabad and Vijaywada cities, and of course from Khammam itself. The rally began as a sea of red from Com. Yanala Malla Reddy Nagar (local government Degree College ground). It was headed by Arunodaya, with gond dancers of Adilabad, drum dancers of Nalgonda, tribal dancers of Khammam and West Godavari, drum and folk and blanket dancers of Khammam and Warangal. Behind the Arunodaya teams walked the All India leaders of AIKMS as well as its state committee leaders and some prominent intellectuals. The procession left a mark on the people of Khammam.

The rally culminated in a public meeting of over 60,000 people at Com, Dharmanna Nagar (Pavilion Grounds). It was presided over by Com. V. Venkatramaiah (State President of AIKMS). Com. Yatendra Kumar (General Secretary of CPI(ML)-New Democracy, Com. H.S. Sandhu (AIKMS Vice President) and Com. M.N. Swamy (AIKMS President), and state leaders addressed the gathering.

Com. V. Venkatramaiah denounced the pro-WTO policies of UPA Government led by Congress and the state Congress Government and said it is no different from its predecessors. Despite so much talk of land distribution by state govt. no land of landlords has been distributed in the state. He explained the efforts of AIKMS State Committee to occupy 50 lakh acres of land and called on the organization to strengthen the struggle for land to the tiller.

Com. Yatendra Kumar called on communist revolutionaries not to let their differences come in the way of building joint struggles on people’s issues. Calling for a stop to mutual clashes and intimidation, he said communist revolutionary organizations should pool their strength to fight the ruling classes. He denounced the UPA Government’s implementation of WTO dictated policies in line with its predecessor and the sale of India’s agriculture to MNCs. He pointed out that CPI-CPM are part of UPA Government and their attitude towards pro-imperialist policies is little different from that of Congress and BJP. He specially criticized the CPI-CPM’s pushing through of amendments to Patent Act. Terming UPA Govt's rural employment guarantee scheme as grossly inadequate, he criticised successive govt.'s performance on implementing land reforms. He also criticised state govts' attempts to dilute and even reverse the land reform acts. He condemned the support of Indian Government to the King of Nepal and said that the Party welcomes the people’s struggle there for abolition of monarchy.

Com. M.N. Swamy pointed out that the land issue is the core issue and the real issue was to build struggles for land as no parties of ruling classes are going to solve this problem.

Com. H.S. Sandhu focused on the question of peasant suicides and govt. policies responsible for peasant suicides in AP, Punjab and other states. Com. P. Tanya emphasized that the real solution to the land issue lay through the agrarian revolution. She held that there was no difference in the rule of Congress and TDP in the state.

AIKMS A.P. state general secretary Com. G. Diwakar stressed that AIKMS has been working for last two and a half decades taking land problem as the key issue. AIKMS is mobilizing the peasant masses for struggle on their just demands. Com. G. Narsaiah, MLA, Com. K. Rangaiah and Com. P. Ranga Rao explained in detail the struggles of poor peasants and agricultural labourers in the district and thanked the people for participating in the procession and meeting in such large number.

Despite pressure from the police to complete the meeting at 9:30 P.M., it continued till well after 11 P.M.

The State Conference opened with a seminar on three issues viz. (a) the land issue and agrarian revolution, (b) impact of globalization on agriculture and (c) the Seed Act and water privatization. The first issue was explained by Com. Yatendra Kumar, the second by Prof. K. R. Chowdhary and the third by Shri Rajendra Sarangi. Speaking on the occasion Com. Y. Kumar stated that ruling classes enacted land reform acts under the pressure of the struggle of poor peasants and agricultural labourers but these were used to delude the rural poor while enabling landlords to save their lands under the Acts. The representatives of the ruling classes themselves have termed implementation on these Acts as fake. In fact since 1947 only 1.25% of the land has been redistributed even by Govt. claims. While giving facts and figures about the land problem in the country, Com. Y. Kumar reminded the audience that talk of 'peaceful' solution of land problem is misleading and wrong as the ruling classes would not allow this.

Prof. K. R. Chowdhary stressed that on the one hand prices of pesticides and fertilizers are rising and on the other prices of agricultural produce are stagnant or declining forcing the peasantry to suicides. Outlining the effects of globalization on Indian agriculture, he said that while imperialist countries are heavily subsidizing their own agricultural production they are forcing countries like India to totally abandon it.

Shri Rajendra Sarangi said that Indian Govt. is bringing new seed bill to enable MNCs to capture seed market in the country. Criticizing the privatization of water, he said that MNCs now are taking over the rivers themselves.

In addition a cartoon exhibition on impact of Telangana struggle was held on 21st April which was inaugurated by Com. Y.S. Rao (National Secretary of AIKMS) at a programme addressed by Shri Satish Chandra (Editor, Andhra Prabha).

The Delegate session commenced on 24th April at Com. Nandanam Venkat Rao premises (Bhakta Ramdass Auditorium). The flag was hoisted by the President of the state unit, Com. V. Venkataramaiah. More than 500 delegates were elected by District Conferences of Srikakulam, Vizainagaram, East and West Godavari, Guntur, Prakasam, Kurnool, Nalgonda, Adilabad, Khammam, Warangal, Mehboobnagar and Nizamabad. Every District Conference was marked by processions of 1000 to 10000 peasants and public meetings. They were also remarkable for considerable police harassment.

The delegates to the State Conference were welcomed by the Chairman of the Reception Committee, Com. Y. Krishnaiah. Com. M.N. Swamy inaugurated the Conference. Fraternal messages were given by Com. Prakash Das and Com. H.S. Sandhu (from Central Executive Committee of AIKMS), Com. Buddha Gomango from LSM Orissa (affiliated to AIKMS), Com. Jhansi (APRCS), Com. Challapath Srinivas Rao from APRCS, Com. J.V. Chalpathi Rao from FAG.

Later the General Secretary’s report was presented by the State General Secretary, Com. G. Diwakar. At the conclusion of the Conference, the new Committee of state AIKMS was elected with 32 members and with Com. P. Tanya as President and Com. G. Diwakar as General Secretary.

The Conference issued two calls – one for dharnas at government offices between May 9th-13th for measures against drought, implementation of land reforms, reduction of land ceilings and other related demands. From 15th May to 15th June 2005, widespread propaganda campaign would be taken up at village levels and from the last week of June 2005, land occupation will start. Agitation will also be taken up for implementation of Minimum Wage Act for agricultural labour.

The Conference passed several resolutions demanding withdrawal of Seed Bill, abrogation of the recently adopted Patent Bill, withdrawal of Private Market Bill of the state government. The Conference also demanded lowering of the land ceiling and removal of all exemptions, implementation of 1/70 Act, implementation of minimum wage for agricultural labourers and enactment of comprehensive legislation to safeguard their rights. The Conference demanded that adequate compensation and proper rehabilitation should be undertaken for the people who are going to be affected when 5.5 lakh acres of land shall be submerged due to 26 projects taken up by the state govt.