People's Democracy

THE recently formed Lok Morcha (People’s Front) has decided to constitute a 5-member committee to prepare a detailed programme of activities to be undertaken by the front. The committee comprises Harkishan Singh Surjeet, Mulayam Singh Yadav, V P Singh, H D Deve Gowda and A B Bardhan.

This meeting of the Lok Morcha, held at New Delhi on April 3, was the first since the formation of the front and was presided over by veteran CPI(M) leader Jyoti Basu. The meeting was attended by former prime ministers V P Singh and H D Dewe Gowda, Mulayam Singh Yadav, A B Bardhan, Harkishan Singh Surjeet, Abani Roy and Amar Singh.

The meeting also discussed the broad guidelines for the composition of the front. It was decided that no party with a communal background would be admitted to the front.

Another important decision was to hold a series of rallies to expose the policies and misdeeds of the BJP-led NDA government. The first rally in the series will be held at Azamgarh in Uttar Pradesh.

Talking to media after the meeting, Lok Morcha chairman Jyoti Basu and its convenor Mulayam Singh Yadav announced that the fight against the NDA government would continue inside as well as outside the parliament. The Lok Morcha would strive to bring pressure on the Vajpayee government to quit in view of the exposure of various scams by Tehelka.com. (INN)