People's Democracy

 August Campaign In Himachal Pradesh

 Onkar Shad

THE call given by the central committee of the Party for conducting a campaign in the month of August against imperialism and communalism was implemented in Himachal Pradesh in nine districts of the state from August 16 to September 10. The campaign had a good impact on the people of the state and the danger of imperialism and communalism to our country was highlighted among them.

The Party state committee in its August 8-9 meeting chalked out the plan for making this campaign wider and successful. It was decided that all mass and class organisations should be involved in the campaign and that apart from these two principal issues, some local level issues should also be taken up in the campaign.

In Shimla district, the campaign was conducted jointly by CITU, HPKS, DYFI and SFI. As part of the campaign, nearly 10,000 leaflets and 3,000 posters were distributed and pasted through out the district. The campaign culminated in a mass dharna for three hours in front of the DC office Shimla on August 29. Around 500 people participated in the dharna which was addressed by the leaders of these mass organisations.

In Mandi district, the campaign was conducted jointly by HPKS and CITU in the Koldam Hydel project area. The demands of the peasantry and workers affected by this project were also taken up in the campaign. The campaign culminated in a 10 km long march on August 31 in which hundreds of workers and peasants participated. The march culminated in a rally at the end. Around 5,000 leaflets printed by the district committee of the Party and another 5,000 printed by the Kisan Sabha were distributed during the campaign.

In Kullu district, a joint campaign by CITU, HPKS and DYFI was conducted for fifteen days. In this campaign many street meetings were organised and around 10,000 leaflets were distributed. On August 13 a big rally was organised in Sainj that was attended by about 1,000 workers, youths and peasants.

 
In Una district, a joint campaign was conducted by DYFI and HPKS, which culminated in a modest rally on September 10 in Una town. In Hamirpur district also, the campaign culminated into a mass protest and rally on September 10 in Hamirpur town. The Janwadi Mahila Samiti  and CITU conducted the campaign in this district.

The campaign was also conducted in Kangra, Sirmour, Solan and Chamba districts of the state.