People's Democracy(Weekly Organ of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) |
Vol.
XXVI
No. 39 October 06,2002 |
LEFT
PARTIES AGITATION
Rail Traffic Blocked By Dharnas
Across Punjab
DHARNAS
were organsed on railway lines across the state of Punjab on the joint call of
CPI(M) ,CPI and other Left parties. Our readers would be aware that the farmers
have been agitating on the issues on electricity tarrifs, support price for
paddy and other issues. It was in this background that the Left parties in the
state had called for rail roko agitation. The Sarv Hind Shiromani Akali Dal also
supported the agitation and its president, Gurcharan Singh Tohra, also
participated in the dharna held at railway line near Rajpura.
The
major demands of the farmers were fixing of Rs.700 per quintal as the minimum
support price for paddy, compensation to the farmers affected by the drought at
the rate of Rs.10,000 per acre and continuation of free electricity.
Lahamber
Singh Taggar, president of the AIKS state unit said at a press conference at
Chandigarh that this is for the first time since 1967 when the central
government has not increased the support price for paddy. This has increased the
burden on the farmers as they had to spend more on the produce this time. On the
other hand, despite the drought in the state, the state government has failed to
provide any kind of drought relief. The farmers had demanded Rs.100 per quintal
as drought relief for their crop which had been destroyed.
More
than thousand activists blocked trains on the important Delhi- Amritsar rail
track at Phillaur and raised slogans against the anti-farmers policies. Amongst
the prominent leaders who led and later addressed the protestors were Lahamber
Singh Taggar, former MLA Kulwant Singh and Gurmeet Singh. A demonstration was
also held at Mallanpur Dhaka.
A
militant demonstration, led by CPI(M) district secretary, Chand Singh Chopra,
was held at Barnala in Sangrur district. A Dharna was held on the
Delhi-Ferozpur railway line at Mansa and prominent among those who
addressed the protestors were CPI(M) state secretariat member, Hardev Arshi and
Party district secretary, Buta Singh.
Rail
traffic was blocked at Malout in Muktsar distrcit due to the rail
roko agitation.
CPI(M)
state secretary, Balwant Singh, particpated in the dharna near Rajpura.
Addressing the agitating farmers he said that the policies of the central
government were pauperising the farmers. The farmers are forced to go to Delhi
every year like beggars to demand remunerative prices. Charging the central
government of acting at the behest of the WTO and big industrialists, he
questioned whether it is not the duty of the government to ensure the well being
of the masses. He also lambasted the Akali Dal for shedding crocodile tears for
farmers and said that it should recall its minister Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa from
the central cabinet or else it shall also face the wrath of the people. He
pledged full support to the organisations fighting for the rights of the
farmers.