People's Democracy

CPI(M) RALLY IN JAIPUR

Protest Against Government’s Anti-People Policies

THE Rajasthan state committee of the CPI(M) held a massive demonstration on October 23 at the state secretariat to make a demand for drought relief work and protest against anti-people polices of the government.

The protest rally of thousands of peasants, workers, women, youth and students started from Khasa Kothi Crossing at 12 noon.  Peasants, agricultural workers and women had begun reaching Jaipur on October 22 itself from far flung areas, including border districts of Sri Ganganagar and Hanumangarh. The peasants, workers and others carrying red flags marched behind the red banner in a disciplined manner. They raised slogans – “start relief work in drought affected areas, pay compensation for lost crops, waive repayment of peasants’ loans, provide jobs to the unemployed, stop eviction of the tribals, starvation deaths must stop, shame to the government which does not provide subsistence, Gehlot government down down, communal forces down down, and long live workers-peasants unity.”

The rally marching through M I Road, Panch Batti and statue circle reached the secretariat where it was converted into a public meeting. Hari Ram Chauhan presided over the meeting.

Addressing the rallyists, Vasudev, state secretary of the CPI(M) said that whole of Rajasthan is presently reeling under severe drought. Although drought conditions began developing as early as September, the state government remained completely unconcerned about the plight of the millions of people.  It simply, kept on passing the buck to the centre which is also not serious about relief work. Sitting tightly over more than 60 million tonnes of foodgrains rotting in its godowns the centre is not inclined to release foodgrains in the required quantity for drought relief work. The Rajasthan government on its part is not buying power to ensure its regular supply to peasants to enable them to operate their tube wells.  This reflects utter casualness on the part of the government towards drought relief.  Under these circumstances the CPI(M) has taken to a path of struggle, Vasudev remarked.

Hannan Mollah, member of the CPI(M) central committee and MP was the main speaker. He characterised the central government as corrupt, communal and anti-people and gave a call to sharpen the struggle against it. The government at the centre is more concerned about spreading the venom of communalism in the country rather than effectively tackling the problems arising from drought. Now the public distribution system and food for work  programme are completely paralysed, Hannan Mollah remarked. He also said that people are facing difficulties due to non-availability of water and electricity.  Moreover, the government has failed in providing employment to the unemployed.

Lambasting the government, he further remarked this government never honours the promises it made to the people. He, therefore, called upon the people of the state to prepare for a struggle unto the finish.

Condemning the communal stance of the centre, he remarked the NDA government is now busy implementing the communal agenda of the BJP. This government is consistently pushing the country away from its secular ethos and towards communalism, civil strife and disintegration. He drew attention to the unprecedented corruption and scams involving the central government. Hannan Mollah blamed the Rajasthan government for pursuing anti-peasantry policy. He called upon the peasants to overthrow the BJP-led government at the centre and the Congress government in the state as both are anti-people in their policies and practices. Referring to the plight of the tribals he said that the central government is hatching a conspiracy to displace more than one crore tribals from the forests. He called for defeating this move.

Nav Rang Singh from Sri Ganganagar pointed out in his speech that the mines laid down in the agricultural land in the border areas have killed around 50 peasants and another 150 have been disabled due to injuries.

Tribal leader Narayan Mannat referred to the flight of peasants in Banswada, Dungarpur and Sirohli districts. Among others who addressed the rally included Suresh Vyas, Banshilal Singhvi, Duli Chand, Sheopat Singh, Ramesh Potalia, Ram Prasad Jangid Amra Ram and Sumitra Chopra.

In the meeting itself the state leadership of the Party announced the following programme of the agitation to be conducted in the months of November and December:

·        November 15 – Demonstration and gherao of the offices of Electricity Engineers.

·        November 29 – Picketing foodgrain godowns of the central and state governments.

·        December 16 – Gherao of Tehsil headquarters and start of Jail Bharo movement.

After the meeting, a delegation of the party led by Hannan Mollah and Vasudev met the representatives of the government and submitted a memorandum. Some of the major demands in the memorandum were:

1. Drought relief work should be undertaken earnestly and everyone seeking employment must be provided some work.
2. The minimum wage is to be fixed at Rs 60 per day and this is to be paid without any discrimination.
3. Cattle fodder is to be provided through fodder depots operated  at the village panchayat level.
4. Drinking water is to be ensured to all the 30,000 villages in the state.
5. In order to make tube-wells operative regular supply of electricity must be ensured.
6. Employment is to be provided to all, failing which unemployment compensation is to be paid.
7. The state government must announce a package programme to reopen the factories which have been closed down in the bygone years.
8. Oppression of dalits, women and minorities must be prevented and legal action is to be initiated against the guilty.
9. For preventing starvation in drought affected border districts wheat must be made available at Rs 2 per kg under the PDS.
10. Compensation is to be paid to those killed or injured in landmine explosions in the border areas.