People's Democracy

RECENTLY, the SFI and DYFI jointly organised a massive march to the Vidhan Sabha in Lucknow against the price hike, privatisation and saffronisation of education, communalism, unemployment and several other issues. The march was led by DYFI central secretariat member Tikender Singh Panwar, state SFI president Sudhir Singh and secretary Prashant Trivedi, state DYFI president Prem Nath and secretary Sadhu Sharan.

About 5,000 students and youth from 32 districts of Uttar Pradesh converged on Lucknow and marched to the Vidhan Sabha, carrying the SFI and DYFI flags as well as placards and banners against price hike, saffronisation of education, unemployment, etc, and shouting slogans against the corrupt UP government.

The march through the streets of Lucknow reflected the resolve of these youth and students to fight against the moves to privatise and saffronise our education system, against the corrupt and inept UP government, and on unemployment and other issues affecting the youth and students. Girls participated in the march in a big way, as did the students and youth hailing from the flood-hit districts of eastern UP. When the administration stopped the march before the Vidhan Sabha, the procession turned into a demonstration on the spot.

Addressing the rally, Panwar denounced the central and state BJP governments for pushing their hidden agenda in education, and exposed their anti-student and anti-youth policies. Strongly condemning the efforts of the BJP government to introduce astrology into higher education curriculum and degrading the institution of UGC to a government department, he expressed the firm resolve of the democratic minded students and youth to work concertedly to defeat the BJP and its allies in the coming UP assembly elections. He announced that students and youth will court arrest on September 27 to oppose the anti-student and anti-youth policies.

Prem Nath Rai and Sadhu Sharan explained the hardships and sufferings of the people of Uttar Pradesh. While increasing unemployment and closure of industries have made life miserable for the people, particularly the poor and disadvantaged, the government is wholeheartedly engaged in saffronisation of education.

Sudhir Singh congratulated the students and youth for making the procession and rally successful. He said the days of BJP regime were numbered; the democratic movement would ensure that this anti-student and anti-youth government does not return to power. The rally adopted a resolution containing 13 demands pertaining to the students and youth.